15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
³ Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises his father’s correction,
    but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
⁶ In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so with the heart of fools.
⁸ The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
¹⁰ There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way:
    whoever hates reproof shall die.
¹¹ Sheol^[a] and Abaddon are before Yahweh—
    how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
¹² A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
¹⁴ The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
    but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,
    than great treasure with trouble.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
¹⁸ A wrathful man stirs up contention,
    but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,
    but the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹ Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,
    but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
²² Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
    but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
²³ Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.
    How good is a word at the right time!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the wise,
    to keep him from going downward to Sheol.^[b]
25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,
    but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
²⁶ Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,
    but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
²⁷ He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
²⁹ Yahweh is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
    Good news gives health to the bones.
³¹ The ear that listens to reproof lives,
    and will be at home among the wise.
³² He who refuses correction despises his own soul,
    but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
³³ The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.
    Before honor is humility.