15 A gentle answer turns away rage,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
³ The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere.
    They watch evil people and good people.
⁴ A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
    but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.
⁵ A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
    but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
⁶ Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person,
    but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.
⁷ The lips of wise people spread knowledge,
    but a foolish attitude does not.

⁸ A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to Yahweh,
    but the prayers of decent people please him.
⁹ The way of wicked people is disgusting to Yahweh,
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰ Discipline is a terrible burden to anyone who leaves the right path.
    Anyone who hates a warning will die.
¹¹ If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of Yahweh
    how much more the human heart!
¹² A mocker does not appreciate a warning.
    He will not go to wise people.

¹³ A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
    but with a heartache comes depression.
¹⁴ The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
¹⁵ Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶ Better to have a little with the fear of Yahweh
    than great treasure and turmoil.
¹⁷ Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love
    than juicy steaks where there is hate.

¹⁸ A hothead stirs up a fight,
    but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
¹⁹ The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge,
    but the road of decent people is an open highway.

²¹ Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense,
    but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
²² Without advice plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth,
    and a timely word—oh, how good!

²⁴ The path of life for a wise person leads upward
    in order to turn him away from hell below.
²⁵ Yahweh tears down the house of an arrogant person,
    but he protects the property of widows.
²⁶ The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to Yahweh,
    but pleasant words are pure to him.
²⁷ Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family,
    but whoever hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer,
    but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.
²⁹ Yahweh is far from wicked people,
    but he hears the prayers of righteous people.

³⁰ A twinkle in the eye delights the heart.
    Good news refreshes the body.
³¹ The ear that listens to a life-giving warning
    will be at home among wise people.

³² Whoever ignores discipline despises himself,
    but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.
³³ The fear of Yahweh is discipline leading to wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.