¹ A soft answer will turn away wrath, but a word of trouble will stir ⌞anger⌟.¹

1. Literally “nostril”

² The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge, but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.

³ In every place, the eyes of Yahweh keep watch over the evil and the good.

⁴ Gentleness¹ of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it² causes a break in spirit.

1. Or “Healing”
2. That is, the tongue

⁵ A fool will despise the instruction of his father, but he who guards reproof is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise will spread knowledge, but the heart¹ of fools, not so.

1. Or “mind”

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹ An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked, but he who pursues righteousness he will love.

¹⁰ Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way; he who hates a rebuke will die.

¹¹ Sheol¹ and Abaddon² are before Yahweh, ⌞how much more⌟³ the hearts of the children of men!

1. A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
2. Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the <sc>ot</sc> in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.
3. Literally “more for”

¹² A scoffer does not like ⌞his rebuke⌟;¹ to the wise he will not go.

1. Literally “rebuke belonging to him”

¹³ A heart¹ of gladness will make good ⌞countenance⌟,² but in sorrow of heart³ a spirit is broken.

1. Or “mind”
2. Literally “faces”
3. Or “mind”

¹⁴ The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge, but the faces of fools, they¹ will feed on folly.

1. Hebrew “he/it”

¹⁵ All the days of the poor are hard, but goodness of heart¹ is a continuous feast.

1. Or “mind”

¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it.¹

1. Or “him”

¹⁷ Better is a dinner of vegetables when¹ love is there than a fattened ox and hatred with it.²

1. Hebrew “and”
2. Or “him”

¹⁸ A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife, but he who is slow to ⌞anger⌟,¹ he will calm contention.

1. Literally “nostrils”

¹⁹ The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,¹ but the path of the upright is a highway.

1. Hebrew “thorn”

²⁰ A child of wisdom will make a father glad, but a ⌞foolish person⌟,¹ he despises his mother.

1. Literally “foolishness of humankind”

²¹ Folly is a joy to him who lacks ⌞sense⌟,¹ and a person of understanding ⌞will walk upright⌟.²

1. Literally “heart”
2. Literally “he will walk upright walking”

²² Plans go wrong when there is no counsel, but with many advisors it will succeed.

²³ Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth, and a word in its time, how good it is!

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for him who has insight, in order to turn away from Sheol below.

²⁵ The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down, but he will maintain the ⌞property line⌟¹ of the widow.

1. Literally “boundary”

²⁶ Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh, but gracious words are pure.

²⁷ He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain, but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ A heart¹ of righteousness will ponder the answer, but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.

1. Or “mind”

²⁹ Yahweh is far from the wicked, but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.

³⁰ From the light of the eyes, the heart¹ will rejoice, and good news will enliven the bones.²

1. Or “mind”
2. Hebrew “bone”

³¹ The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life, in the midst of the wise it will lodge.

³² He who ignores instruction despises himself,¹ but he who hears admonition gains heart.²

1. Or “soul,” or “inner self”
2. Or “mind”

³³ Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.