1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
1A tender answer turns away rage, and a word of pain raises up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good, and the mouth of fools pours forth folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
observing the evil and the good.
3The eyes of YHWH are in every place, watching evil ones and good ones.
4A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
4A healing tongue is a tree of life, and crookedness in it is a breaking in the spirit.
5A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
5A fool despises the discipline of his father, and the one receiving correction is prudent.
6The house of the righteous has great treasure,
but the income of the wicked is trouble.
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure, and in the produce of the wicked is trouble.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but not so the hearts of fools.
7The lips of the wise ones scatter knowledge, and the heart of fools, not so.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
8The sacrifice of the wicked ones is an abomination to YHWH, and the prayer of the upright ones is His delight.
9The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
9An abomination to YHWH is the way of the wicked, and the one pursuing righteousness, He loves.
10Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
10Discipline is grievous to the one abandoning the way; one hating correction will die.
11Sheol and Abaddona lie open before the LORD—
how much more the hearts of men!
11Sheol and Abaddon are before of YHWH—and surely the hearts of the sons of men!
12A mocker does not love to be reproved,
nor will he consult the wise.
12One mocking does not love one who rebukes to him; he will not go to the wise ones.
13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
13A joyful heart makes a face good, and by sorrow of heart a spirit is stricken.
14A discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
14A discerning heart seeks knowledge, and the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are bad,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil, and a good heart is a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure with turmoil.
16Better is a little with the fear of YHWH, than great treasure and anxiety with it.
17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.
17Better is a portion of herbs when love is there, than a fattened calf when hatred is with it.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
18A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one long of nostrils quiets fighting.
19The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
19The way of the sluggish one is like a hedge of thorns, and the path of the upright is raised up.
20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
20A wise son gladdens his father, and a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
21Folly is joy to the one lacking heart, and a man of understanding makes straight his walk.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
22Plans without counsel are broken, and in a multitude of counselors it is established.
23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—
and how good is a timely word!
23Joy is unto a man in the answer of his mouth, and a word in its season, how good it is!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise,
that he may avoid going down to Sheol.
24The path of life is on high for the one being wise, that he may turn away from Sheol below.
25The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but He protects the boundaries of the widow.
25YHWH will tear down the house of the proud ones, and He will make stand the boundary of the widow.
26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
26An abomination YHWH are the thoughts of the wicked, and pure are words of pleasantness.
27He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
27The one being greedy for dishonest gain is troubling his house, and the one hating bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, and the mouth of the wicked pours forth evils.
29The LORD is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
29Far is YHWH from the wicked, and He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes cheers the heart,
and good news nourishes the bones.
30The light of the eyes gladdens the heart; a good report fattens the bone.
31He who listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
31The ear hearing the rebukes of life, it will abide among the wise ones.
32He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
32The one neglecting discipline despises his own soul, and the one hearing a rebuke acquires understanding.
33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
33The fear of YHWH is the instruction of wisdom, and before the face of honor is humility.