15 A gentle answer^(A) turns away wrath,^(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^(C)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^(D)

³ The eyes^(E) of the Lord are everywhere,^(F)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.^(G)

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)

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,^(R)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.^(S)

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.

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^(X)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.^(Y)

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.

²² Plans fail for lack of counsel,^(AI)
    but with many advisers^(AJ) they succeed.^(AK)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(AL)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(AM)

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)

³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,^(AY)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.^(AZ)

³³ Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,^(BA)
    and humility comes before honor.^(BB)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.^(BC)

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,^(BD)
    but motives are weighed^(BE) by the Lord.^(BF)

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.^(BG)

⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end^(BH)—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.^(BI)

⁵ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.^(BJ)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.^(BK)

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord^(BL) evil is avoided.^(BM)

⁷ When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace^(BN) with them.^(BO)

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain^(BP) with injustice.^(BQ)

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.^(BR)

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.^(BS)

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.^(BT)

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.^(BU)

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.^(BV)

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,^(BW)
    but the wise will appease it.^(BX)

¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;^(BY)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^(BZ)

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight^(CA) rather than silver!^(CB)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^(CC)

¹⁸ Pride^(CD) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit^(CE) before a fall.^(CF)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[b](CG)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(CH)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.^[c](CI)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(CJ)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(CK)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[d](CL)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(CM)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(CN)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(CO)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(CP)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(CQ) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(CR)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(CS)
    and a gossip separates close friends.^(CT)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.^(CU)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(CV) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(CW)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast^(CX) into the lap,
    but its every decision^(CY) is from the Lord.^(CZ)