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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble. ¹⁷ Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart: ² For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace. ³ Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart; ⁴ So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men. ⁵ Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. ⁶ In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

⁷ Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil: ⁸ This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones. ⁹ Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: ¹⁰ So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training: ¹² For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

¹³ Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge. ¹⁴ For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold. ¹⁵ She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

²¹ My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes. ²² So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck. ²³ Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping. ²⁴ When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you. ²⁵ Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers: ²⁶ For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

²⁷ Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. ²⁸ Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time. ²⁹ Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear. ³⁰ Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong. ³¹ Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example. ³² For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright. ³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright. ³⁴ He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted. ³⁵ The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.