1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.

1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

1 A ()gentle answer turns away wrath,But a ()()harsh word stirs up anger.

1 A gentle answer turns away anger,()but a harsh word stirs up wrath.()

1 A gentle response diverts anger, but a harsh statement incites fury.

2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

2 The ()tongue of the wise makes knowledge ()acceptable,But the ()mouth of fools spouts folly.

2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.()

2 The wise speak, presenting knowledge appropriately, but fools spout foolishness.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

3 The ()eyes of the Lord are in every place,Watching the evil and the good.

3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,observing the wicked and the good.()

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing both the evil and the good.

4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

4 A ()soothing tongue is a tree of life,But perversion in it ()crushes the spirit.

4 The tongue that heals is a tree of life,()but a devious tongue() breaks the spirit.

4 A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

5 A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.

5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

5 A fool ()rejects his father’s discipline,But he who regards reproof is sensible.

5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,but a person who accepts correction is sensible.()

5 A fool rejects his father's instructions, but anyone who respects reproof acts sensibly.

6 In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

6 Great wealth is in the house of the ()righteous,But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

6 The house of the righteous has great wealth,but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

6 The righteous house is itself a great treasure, but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.

7 The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,But the hearts of fools are not so.

7 The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,but not so the heart of fools.

7 What the wise have to say disseminates knowledge, but it's not in the heart of fools to do so.

8 The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

8 The ()sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,But ()the prayer of the upright is His delight.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,()but the prayer of the upright is His delight.()

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,But He loves one who ()pursues righteousness.

9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,but He loves the one who pursues righteousness.()

9 The lifestyle of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but he loves those who ardently pursue righteousness.

10 There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;He who hates reproof will die.

10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;the one who hates correction will die.

10 Severe punishment awaits anyone who wanders off the path anyone who despises reproof will die.

11 Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men!

11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

11 ()()Sheol and ()Abaddon lie open before the Lord,How much more the ()hearts of ()men!

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord()—how much more, human hearts.()

11 Since Sheol and Abaddon lie open in the LORD's presence, how much more the hearts of human beings!

12 The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

12 A ()scoffer does not love one who reproves him,He will not go to the wise.

12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;()he will not consult the wise.

12 The arrogant mocker never loves the one who corrects him; he will not inquire of the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

13 A ()joyful heart makes a ()cheerful face,But ()when the heart is ()sad, the ()spirit is broken.

13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.()

13 A happy heart enlightens the face, but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit.

14 The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.

14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

14 The ()mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,()but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.()

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on stupidity.

15 All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,But a ()cheerful heart has a continual feast.

15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

15 The entire life of the afflicted seems disastrous, but a good heart feasts continuously.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.

16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

16 ()Better is a little with the ()fear of the LordThan great treasure and turmoil with it.

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lordthan great treasure with turmoil.()

16 Better is a little accompanied by fear of the LORD than abundant wealth with turmoil.

17 Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

17 ()Better is a ()dish of ()vegetables where love isThan a ()fattened ox served with hatred.

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is lovethan a fattened ox() with hatred.()

17 A vegetarian meal served with love is better than a big, thick steak with a plateful of animosity.

18 An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.

18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

18 A ()hot-tempered man stirs up strife,But the ()slow to anger ()calms a dispute.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict,()but a man slow to anger() calms strife.

18 The quickly angered man stirs up contention, but anyone who controls his temper calms a dispute.

19 Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.

19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,But the path of the upright is a highway.

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,but the path of the upright is a highway.()

19 The lifestyle of the lazy is like a thorny hedge, but the path taken by the upright is an open highway.

A Wise Son Brings Blessings To Others

20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.

20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

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

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,but a foolish man despises his mother.()

20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.

21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

21 Folly is joy to him who lacks ()sense,But a man of understanding ()walks straight.

21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,but a man with understanding walks a straight path.()

21 Stupidity is the delight of the senseless, but an understanding man walks uprightly.

22 Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.

22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,But with many counselors they ()succeed.

22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,but with many advisers they succeed.()

22 Plans fail without advice, but with many counselors they are confirmed.

23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!

23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

23 A ()man has joy in an ()apt answer,And how delightful is a timely ()word!

23 A man takes joy in giving an answer;()and a timely word—how good that is!()

23 An appropriate answer brings joy to a person, and a well-timed word is a good thing.

24 Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld.

24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

24 The ()path of life leads upward for the wiseThat he may keep away from ()Sheol below.

24 For the discerning the path of life leads upward,so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

24 The way of life leads upward for the wise so he may avoid Sheol below.

25 The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.

25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

25 The Lord will ()tear down the house of the proud,But He will ()establish the boundary of the ()widow.

25 The Lord destroys the house of the proud,but He protects the widow’s territory.()

25 The house of the proud the LORD will demolish, but he will protect the widow's boundary line.

26 Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,But pleasant words are pure.

26 The Lord detests the plans of an evil man,but pleasant words are pure.()

26 To the LORD evil plans are detestable, but pleasant words are pure.

27 He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

27 He who ()profits illicitly troubles his own house,But he who ()hates bribes will live.

27 The one who profits dishonestly() troubles his household,but the one who hates bribes will live.()

27 Those who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble into their homes, but the person who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

28 The heart of the righteous ()ponders how to answer,But the ()mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,()but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.()

28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking, but the wicked person spews out evil.

29 The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

29 The Lord is ()far from the wicked,But He ()hears the prayer of the righteous.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,()but He hears the prayer of the righteous.()

29 The LORD is far away from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.

30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

30 ()Bright eyes gladden the heart;Good news puts fat on the bones.

30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;good news strengthens() the bones.()

30 Bright eyes encourage the heart; good news nourishes the body.

31 The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproofWill dwell among the wise.

31 One who() listens to life-giving rebukes()will be at home among the wise.

31 Whoever listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.

32 He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.

32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

32 He who ()neglects discipline ()despises himself,But he who ()listens to reproof acquires ()understanding.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,()but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.()()

32 Whoever ignores instruction hates himself, but anyone who heeds reproof gains understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

33 The ()fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,And before honor comes humility.

33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,and humility comes before honor.() >

33 The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom, and humility precedes honor.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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