15¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

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

⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who heeds admonition is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the minds of fools.

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

⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

¹⁰ There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof will die.

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

¹² A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

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

¹⁴ The mind 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 a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. ¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

¹⁹ The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.

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

²¹ Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.

²² Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.

²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

²⁴ The wise man's path leads upward to life, that he may avoid Sheol beneath.

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, the words of the pure are pleasing to him.

²⁷ He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

³¹ He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition will abide among the wise.

³² He who ignores instruction despises himself, but he who heeds admonition gains understanding.

³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.

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.