151 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

3 God doesn't miss a thing - he's alert to good and evil alike.

4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt.

7 Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow - there's nothing to them.

8 God can't stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers.

9 A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.

10 It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.

11 Even hell holds no secrets from God - do you think he can't read human hearts? Life Ascends to the Heights

12 Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women.

13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

15 A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. 17 Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

18 Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.

20 Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.

21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.

23 Congenial conversation - what a pleasure! The right word at the right time - beautiful!

24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful - it's a clean about-face from descent into hell.

25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.

26 God can't stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.

27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.

28 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse.

29 God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.

32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.

33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living - first you learn humility, then you experience glory.