Proverbs

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.

11Sheoland Abaddon are before the LORD—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 counselors 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 among 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 honor is humility.

1A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

2The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

3In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.

4A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit.

5A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.

6[In] the house of the righteous [is] abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked — trouble.

7The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.

8The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.

9An abomination to Jehovah [is] the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.

10Chastisement [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

11Sheol and destruction [are] before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.

12A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.

13A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

14The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

15All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.

16Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

17Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

18A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

20A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

21Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.

22Without counsel [is] the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.

23Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season — how good!

24A path of life [is] on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

25The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.

26An abomination to Jehovah [are] thoughts of wickedness, And pure [are] sayings of pleasantness.

27A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

28The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.

29Far [is] Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.

30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.

31An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

32Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.

33The fear of Jehovah [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honour [is] humility!