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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

¹ A ^(C1)soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath,
But ^(C2)harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. ^(VR1)

² The ^(C1)tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable,
But the ^(C2)babbling mouth of fools spouts folly.

³ The ^(C1)eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good in all their endeavors. ^(VR1)

⁴ A soothing tongue speaking words that build up and encourage is a tree of life,
But a perversive tongue speaking words that overwhelm and depress crushes the spirit.

⁵ A flippant, arrogant fool rejects his father's instruction and correction,
But he who is willing to learn and regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.

⁶ Great and priceless treasure is in the house of the consistently ^(C1)righteous one who seeks godly instruction and grows in wisdom,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked one who rejects the laws of God.

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge sifting it as chaff from the grain;
But the hearts of shortsighted fools are not so.

⁸ The ^(C1)sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD,
But ^(C2)the prayer of the upright is His delight! ^(VR1)

⁹ The way of life of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD,
But He loves one who ^(C1)pursues righteousness personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character.

¹⁰ There is severe discipline for him who ^(F1)turns from the way of righteousness;
And he who hates correction will die.

^11 (C1)Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the LORD—
How much more the ^(C2)hearts and inner motives of the children of men. ^(VR1)

¹² A ^(C1)scoffer unlike a wise man resents one who rebukes him and tries to teach him;
Nor will he go to the wise for counsel and instruction.

¹³ A heart full of ^(C1)joy and goodness makes a cheerful face,
But when a heart is full of ^(C2)sadness the ^(C3)spirit is crushed. ^(VR1)

¹⁴ The ^(C1)mind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it,
But the mouth of the stubborn fool feeds on foolishness. ^(VR1)

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast regardless of the circumstances.

^16 (C1)Better is a little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the LORD
Than great treasure and trouble with it. ^(VR1)

^17 (C1)Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present
Than a ^(C2)fattened ox served with hatred. ^(VR1)

¹⁸ A ^(C1)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But he who is ^(C2)slow to anger and patient ^(C3)calms disputes.

¹⁹ The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him,
But the way of life of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.

²⁰ A ^(C1)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man ^(C2)despises his mother.

²¹ Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks intelligent, common sense,
But a man of understanding ^(C1)walks uprightly making his course straight. ^(VR1)

²² Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they are established and succeed.

²³ A ^(C1)man has joy in giving an appropriate answer,
And how good and delightful is a ^(C2)word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!

²⁴ The chosen ^(C1)path of life leads upward for the wise,
That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below. ^(VR1)

²⁵ The LORD will ^(C1)tear down the house of the proud and arrogant (self-righteous),
But He will ^(C2)establish and protect the boundaries of the land of the godly ^(C3)widow.

²⁶ Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the LORD,
But pure words are pleasant words to Him.

²⁷ He who ^(C1)profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who ^(C2)hates bribes and does not receive nor pay them will live. ^(VR1)

²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(C1)thinks carefully about how to answer in a wise and appropriate and timely way,
But the babbling ^(C2)mouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things. ^(VR1)

²⁹ The LORD is ^(C1)far from the wicked and distances Himself from them,
But He ^(C2)hears the prayer of the consistently righteous that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others,
And good news puts fat on the bones.

³¹ The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure)
Will remain among the wise.

³² He who ^(C1)neglects and ignores instruction and discipline ^(C2)despises himself,
But he who ^(C3)learns from rebuke acquires understanding and grows in wisdom.

³³ The reverent fear of the LORD that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome is the instruction for wisdom its starting point and its essence;
And before honor comes humility.