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^1 (a)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but ^(b)a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but ^(c)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
^3 (d)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
^4 (e)A gentle^[a] tongue is ^(f)a tree of life,
    but ^(g)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
^5 (h)A fool ⁽ⁱ⁾despises his father's instruction,
    but ^(j)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
^7 (k)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(l)not so the hearts of fools.^[b]
8 (m)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ⁽ⁿ⁾the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him ^(o)who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is ^(p)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    ^(q)whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more ^(r)the hearts of the children of man!
^12 (s)A scoffer ^(t)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
^13 (u)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by ^(v)sorrow of heart the spirit is ^(w)crushed.
^14 (x)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but ^(y)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
^16 (z)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
^17 (aa)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than ^(ab)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
^18 (ac)A hot-tempered man ^(ad)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(ae)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹ The way of ^(af)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(ag)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(ah)a level highway.
^20 (ai)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
^21 (aj)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(ak)walks straight ahead.
^22 (al)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(am)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward ^(an)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of ^(ao)the proud
    but ^(ap)maintains ^(aq)the widow's boundaries.
^26 (ar)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(as)gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Whoever is ^(at)greedy for unjust gain ^(au)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(av)bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(aw)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(ax)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is ^(ay)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(az)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 (ba)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(bb)good news refreshes^[c] the bones.
^31 (bc)The ear that listens to ^(bd)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³² Whoever ^(be)ignores instruction ^(bf)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(bg)gains intelligence.
^33 (bh)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(bi)humility comes before honor.