¹ A gentle reply turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word arouses anger.
² The tongue of the wise distills knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool utters nothing except folly.^[b]
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,^[c]
    keeping a close watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
    but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit.
⁵ A fool spurns his father’s correction,
    but whoever heeds admonition is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is no lack of treasures,
    but the earnings of the wicked are never secure.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    such is not true of the heart of a fool.
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,^[d]
    but he delights in the prayer of the upright.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves anyone whose goal is righteousness.
¹⁰ Severe punishment awaits the one who strays from the right path;
    whoever hates a rebuke will die.
¹¹ The netherworld and the abyss lie open to the Lord;
    how much more is this true of the human heart.^[e]
12 A scoffer^[f] does not like to be reproved,
    and he refuses to consult the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes the face cheerful,
    but anguish of heart breaks one’s spirit.
¹⁴ The mind of one who is wise seeks further knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
¹⁵ Every day is wretched for those who are sorrowing,
    but to one who is cheerful, every day is a perpetual feast.^[g]
16 It is better to have a little and fear the Lord^[h]
    than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish.
¹⁷ Better a dish of herbs served with love
    than a fattened ox accompanied by hatred.
¹⁸ An ill-tempered man provokes quarrels,
    but a patient man quiets dissension.
¹⁹ The path of the idler^[i] is covered with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a broad highway.
²⁰ A wise son is a joy to his father,
    but a foolish son has no respect for his mother.
²¹ Folly delights the one without sense,
    but a man of understanding follows a straight path.
²² Plans miscarry when counsel is lacking,
    but they succeed when there are many counselors.
²³ A man is joyful when he utters apt answers,
    and even more satisfying is a word in season.
²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the prudent man
    so that he may escape going down to the netherworld.^[j]
25 The Lord tears down the proud man’s house,^[k]
    but he preserves the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ The Lord abhors the thoughts of the wicked,
    but he is pleased with the words of the pure.
²⁷ He who is greedy for dishonest gain brings disaster on a house,
    but he who refuses to accept bribes will have life.
²⁸ The righteous man reflects before answering,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
²⁹ The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked,
    but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ A kindly glance gives joy to the heart,
    and good news refreshes the bones.
³¹ He who accepts saving reproof has life
    and will enjoy the company of the wise.
³² He who rejects correction despises himself,
    but whoever accepts admonition will gain understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord^[l] provides instruction in wisdom,
    and to be humble is the way to honor.