² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty^(B) correct him?^(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”^(D)

⁴ “I am unworthy^(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.^(F)
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer^(G)—
    twice, but I will say no more.”^(H)

⁷ “Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(J)

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?^(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(L)
9 Do you have an arm like God’s,^(M)
    and can your voice^(N) thunder like his?^(O)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.^(P)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,^(Q)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,^(R)
12 look at all who are proud^(S) and humble them,^(T)
    crush^(U) the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;^(V)
    shroud their faces in the grave.^(W)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.^(X)

¹⁵ “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made^(Y) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.^(Z)
16 What strength^(AA) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!^(AB)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.^(AC)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs^(AD) like rods of iron.^(AE)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,^(AF)
    yet its Maker^(AG) can approach it with his sword.^(AH)
20 The hills bring it their produce,^(AI)
    and all the wild animals play^(AJ) nearby.^(AK)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds^(AL) in the marsh.^(AM)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream^(AN) surround it.
²³ A raging river^(AO) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan^(AP) should surge against its mouth.
²⁴ Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?^(AQ)

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)