¹ A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. ² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours 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 in it is a breach in the spirit. ⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regards 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 [does] 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 to the LORD: but he loves him that follows after righteousness. ¹⁰ Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way: and he that hates reproof will die. ¹¹ Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? ¹² A scorner loves not one that reproves him: neither will he go to the wise. ¹³ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. ¹⁴ The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. ¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has 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 stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife. ¹⁹ The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. ²⁰ A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother. ²¹ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly. ²² without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. ²³ A man has 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 troubles his own house but he that hates gifts will live. ²⁸ The heart of the righteous studies to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ²⁹ The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones fat. ³¹ The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. ³² He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding. ³³ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom and before honour is humility.