¹A gentle answer turns away wrath ,

but a harsh word stirs up anger .

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge ,

but the mouths of fools gush out folly.

³The LORD ’s eyes are everywhere ,

keeping watch on the evil and the good .

⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life ,

but deceit in it crushes the spirit .

⁵A fool despises his father’s correction ,

but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure ,

but the income of the wicked brings trouble .

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge ;

not so with the heart of fools .

⁸The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD ,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight .

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD ,

but he loves him who follows after righteousness .

¹⁰There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.

Whoever hates reproof shall die .

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD —[#15:11 Sheol is the place of the dead.]

how much more then the hearts of the children of men !

¹²A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved ;

he will not go to the wise .

¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face ,

but an aching heart breaks the spirit .

¹⁴The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge ,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched ,

but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast .

¹⁶Better is little , with the fear of the LORD ,

than great treasure with trouble .

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs , where love is ,

than a fattened calf with hatred .

¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention ,

but one who is slow to anger appeases strife .

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,

but the path of the upright is a highway .

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad ,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom ,

but a man of understanding keeps his way straight .

²²Where there is no counsel , plans fail ;

but in a multitude of counsellors they are established .

²³Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth .

How good is a word at the right time !

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise ,

to keep him from going downward to Sheol .

²⁵The LORD will uproot the house of the proud ,

but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

²⁶The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked ,

but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

²⁷He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house ,

but he who hates bribes will live .

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs answers ,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil .

²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked ,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous .

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart .

Good news gives health to the bones .

³¹The ear that listens to reproof lives ,

and will be at home amongst the wise .

³²He who refuses correction despises his own soul ,

but he who listens to reproof gets understanding .

³³The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom .

Before honour is humility .