A Soft Answer
1A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge welcome, but the mouth of fools pours out folly. 3The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, watching the evil and the good. 4A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted one breaks the spirit. 5The senseless spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof is shrewd. 6In the house of the righteous there is great store, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7The lips of the wise scatter knowledge; the heart of fools does no such thing. 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves whoever pursues righteousness. 10Harsh discipline waits for the one who leaves the path; whoever hates reproof will die. 11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before Yahweh—how much more the hearts of men. 12The scoffer does not love the one who reproves him; he will not go to the wise.
A Glad Heart
13A glad heart brightens the face, but heartache crushes the spirit. 14The heart of the discerning seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools grazes on folly. 15All the days of the afflicted are hard, but a cheerful heart has a feast without end. 16Better a little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and turmoil with it. 17Better a dish of greens where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred. 18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but whoever is slow to anger quiets a quarrel. 19The way of the sluggard is a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level road. 20A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21Folly is joy to one who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight on. 22Plans come to nothing without counsel, but with many counselors they stand. 23A man finds joy in the answer of his mouth—and a word in its season, how good it is! 24The path of life leads upward for the prudent, to keep him from Sheol below.
What Yahweh Weighs
25Yahweh tears down the house of the proud, but he sets firm the widow’s boundary. 26Evil schemes are an abomination to Yahweh, but gracious words are pure. 27Whoever grasps at unjust gain brings trouble on his house, but whoever hates bribes will live. 28The heart of the righteous weighs how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil. 29Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30Light in the eyes gladdens the heart; good news puts fat on the bones. 31The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will lodge among the wise. 32Whoever refuses discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to reproof gains sense. 33The fear of Yahweh is the discipline of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
