15 If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry.
But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
2 When wise people speak, they show that knowledge is good.
But when fools speak, they only say foolish things.
3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere.
He is watching what evil people do, and good people too.
4 Kind words are like the fruit of a tree that gives life.
But words that are not honest make people sad and weak.
5 A fool hates his father's rules.
But a wise child learns when his father warns him.
6 Righteous people have many valuable things in their homes.
But the riches of wicked people bring trouble to them.
7 When wise people speak, they give knowledge,
but the minds of fools have nothing to give.
8 When wicked people offer sacrifices to the Lord , he hates it.
But he is pleased when good people pray to him.
9 The Lord hates the way that wicked people live.
But he loves people who want to do what is right.
10 If you leave God's way, you will receive strong punishment.
When people warn you, accept it or you will die.
11 The Lord sees clearly into the deep hole of death.
So you can be sure that he knows people's secret thoughts.
12 Proud people do not like it when someone warns them.
They will not ask wise people to give them advice.
13 When someone is happy, their face smiles.
But when someone is sad, their spirit hurts.
14 Wise people want to learn more.
But fools only want to know useless things.
15 Every day is difficult, if you have trouble in your mind.
But if you are happy, every day is like a feast.
16 You may be poor, but you respect and obey the Lord .
That is better than if you are very rich, but you have a lot of trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with people who love each other
than to eat good meat with people who hate each other.
18 Angry people bring quarrels,
but patient people bring peace.
19 A lazy person always has problems,
as if he is walking through thorn bushes.
But an honest person walks on a straight road through life.
20 A wise child makes his father happy.
But a foolish person does not respect his mother.
21 Stupid people are happy when they do foolish things.
But wise people walk on a straight path.
22 Without good advice, your ideas will never happen.
But you will do well if you have many advisors.
23 It makes you happy when you give a good answer to a question.
It is good when you find the right thing to say at the right time.
24 A wise person walks on a path that leads him up to a long life.
He keeps away from the path that would lead him down to death.
25 The Lord destroys the homes of proud men.
But he keeps the land of widows safe.
26 The Lord hates the thoughts of wicked people.
But kind words please him.
27 Anyone who cheats people to become rich
will cause trouble for his family.
But anyone who refuses to accept bribes
will live safely.
28 Righteous people think carefully before they answer someone.
But when wicked people speak, the result is only trouble.
29 The Lord does not answer the prayers of wicked people.
But when righteous people pray, he listens.
30 If someone smiles at you, it makes you happy.
Good news makes you feel strong.
31 If anyone accepts teaching that helps him to live in a good way,
he becomes a friend of wise people.
32 If you refuse to accept it when people warn you,
you are hurting yourself.
But if you agree to listen,
you will learn to do what is right.
33 If you respect and obey the Lord ,
that will teach you wisdom.
If you want to receive honour,
first learn to be humble.
15 A gentle answer makes anger disappear, but a rough answer makes it grow.
2 Listening to wise people increases your knowledge, but only nonsense comes from the mouths of fools.
3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere. He watches everyone, good and evil.
4 Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit.
5 Fools refuse to listen to their father’s advice, but those who accept discipline are smart.
6 Good people are rich in many ways, but those who are evil get nothing but trouble.
7 Wise people say things that give you new knowledge, but fools say nothing worth hearing.
8 The Lord hates the offerings of the wicked, but he is happy to hear the prayers of those who live right.
9 The Lord hates the way evil people live, but he loves those who try to do good.
10 Whoever stops living right will be punished. Whoever hates to be corrected will be destroyed.
11 The Lord knows everything, even what happens in the place of death. So surely he knows what people are thinking.
12 Fools hate to be told they are wrong, so they refuse to ask wise people for advice.
13 If you are happy, your face shows it. If you are sad, your spirit feels defeated.
14 Intelligent people want more knowledge, but fools only want more nonsense.
15 Life is always hard for the poor, but the right attitude can turn it into a party.
16 It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be rich and have many troubles.
17 It is better to eat a little where there is love than to eat a lot where there is hate.
18 A quick temper causes fights, but patience brings peace and calm.
19 For lazy people, life is a path overgrown with thorns and thistles. For those who do what is right, it is a smooth highway.
20 Wise children make their parents happy. Foolish children bring them shame.
21 Doing foolish things makes a fool happy, but a wise person is careful to do what is right.
22 If you don’t ask for advice, your plans will fail. With many advisors, they will succeed.
23 People are happy when they give a good answer. And there is nothing better than the right word at the right time.
24 What wise people do leads to life here on earth [ a ] and stops them from going down to the place of death.
25 The Lord destroys a proud man’s house but protects a widow’s property.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts, but he is pleased with kind words.
27 Whoever takes money to do wrong invites disaster. Refuse such gifts, and you will live.
28 Good people think before they answer, but the wicked do not, and what they say causes trouble.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked, but he always hears the prayers of those who do what is right.
30 A smile [ b ] makes people happy. Good news makes them feel better.
31 To be counted among the wise, you must learn to accept helpful criticism.
32 If you refuse to be corrected, you are only hurting yourself. Listen to criticism, and you will gain understanding.
33 Wisdom teaches you to respect the Lord . You must be humbled before you can be honored.
15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord : but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord : but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord : how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord : but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
15 A ( A ) gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [ a ] ( B ) harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The ( C ) tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the ( D ) mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
3 The ( E ) eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A [ b ] soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it [ c ] crushes the spirit.
5 A fool [ d ] rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
6 Great wealth is in the house of the ( F ) righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The ( G ) sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord ,
But ( H ) the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord ,
But He loves the one who ( I ) pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
One who hates a rebuke will die.
11 [ e ] ( J ) Sheol and [ f ] Abaddon lie open before the Lord ,
How much more the ( K ) hearts of [ g ] mankind!
12 A ( L ) scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
He will not go to the wise.
13 A ( M ) joyful heart makes a [ h ] cheerful face,
But [ i ] when the heart is ( N ) sad, the ( O ) spirit is broken.
14 The ( P ) mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the [ j ] needy are bad,
But a [ k ] cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 ( Q ) Better is a little with [ l ] the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure, and turmoil with [ m ] the treasure.
17 ( R ) Better is a portion of [ n ] vegetables where there is love,
Than a ( S ) fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A ( T ) hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the ( U ) slow to anger ( V ) calms a dispute.
19 The way of the [ o ] lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A ( W ) wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man ( X ) despises his mother.
21 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks [ p ] sense,
But a person of understanding ( Y ) walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [ q ] succeed.
23 A ( Z ) person has joy in an [ r ] apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely ( AA ) word!
24 The ( AB ) path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from [ s ] Sheol below.
25 The Lord will ( AC ) tear down the house of the proud,
But He will ( AD ) set the boundary of the ( AE ) widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord ,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who ( AF ) profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who ( AG ) hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ( AH ) ponders how to answer,
But the ( AI ) mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is ( AJ ) far from the wicked,
But He ( AK ) hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 [ t ] Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [ u ] refreshes the bones.
31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
32 One who ( AL ) neglects discipline ( AM ) rejects himself,
But one who ( AN ) listens to a rebuke acquires [ v ] understanding.
33 [ w ] The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
4 The soothing tongue ( H ) is a tree of life, ( I )
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. ( J )
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. ( K )
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, ( L )
but the income of the wicked brings ruin. ( M )
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, ( N )
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8 The Lord detests the sacrifice ( O ) of the wicked, ( P )
but the prayer of the upright pleases him. ( Q )
10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die. ( T )
11 Death and Destruction [ a ] lie open before the Lord ( U ) —
how much more do human hearts! ( V )
12 Mockers resent correction, ( W )
so they avoid the wise.
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, ( Z )
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. ( AA )
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil. ( AB )
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred. ( AC )
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, ( AD )
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. ( AE )
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, ( AF )
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father, ( AG )
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, ( AH )
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, ( AN )
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. ( AO )
26 The Lord detests the thoughts ( AP ) of the wicked, ( AQ )
but gracious words are pure ( AR ) in his sight.
27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live. ( AS )
28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, ( AT )
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. ( AU )
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ( AV )
30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones. ( AW )
31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise. ( AX )
