aA soft answer turns away wrath,
but ba harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but athe mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 aThe eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 aA gentle tongue is ba tree of life,
but cperverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 aA fool bdespises his father’s instruction,
but cwhoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 aThe lips of the wise spread knowledge;
anot so the hearts of fools.
8 aThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but bthe prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him awho pursues righteousness.
10 There is asevere discipline for him who forsakes the way;
bwhoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more athe hearts of the children of man!
12 aA scoffer bdoes not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 aA glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by bsorrow of heart the spirit is ccrushed.
14 aThe heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but athe cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 aBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 aBetter is a dinner of herbs where love is
than ba fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 aA hot‑tempered man bstirs up strife,
but he who is cslow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of aa sluggard is like a hedge of bthorns,
but the path of the upright is ca level highway.
20 aA wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 aFolly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding bwalks straight ahead.
22 aWithout counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and aa word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward afor the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of athe proud
but bmaintains cthe widow’s boundaries.
26 aThe thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but bgracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is agreedy for unjust gain btroubles his own household,
but he who hates cbribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous aponders how to answer,
but bthe mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is afar from the wicked,
but he bhears the prayer of the righteous.
30 aThe light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and bgood news refreshes the bones.
31 aThe ear that listens to blife‑giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever aignores instruction bdespises himself,
but he who listens to reproof cgains intelligence.
33 aThe fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and bhumility comes before honor.