1 ARST Replying gently to angry people will calm them, but speaking harshly{ to them} will make them angrier. BSB BSB: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 ARST What wise people say makes others appreciate what they should know, but foolish people constantly say what is foolish. BSB BSB: The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
3 ARST Yahweh sees everything that is happening; he observes both evil people and good people. BSB BSB: The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
4 ARST What people say soothingly is{ like} a tree{ with fruit} that keeps people alive, but what people say deceitfully makes people despair. BSB BSB: A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5 ARST Foolish people detest what their fathers say to correct them, but people who let others rebuke them are clever. BSB BSB: A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
6 ARST Righteous people have houses that contain a lot of riches, but what wicked people gain troubles them. BSB BSB: The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
7 ARST What wise people say informs others of what they should know, but what foolish people think does not do that. BSB BSB: The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
8 ARST Yahweh detests what wicked people offer{ to him}, but what upright people pray pleases him. BSB BSB: The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 ARST Yahweh detests what wicked people do, but he loves people who diligently try to act righteously. BSB BSB: The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 ARST Yahweh will severely punish people who refuse to live righteously,{ and} people who hate other people correcting them will perish. BSB BSB: Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
11 ARST Yahweh knows everything about the place where dead people are, so he surely knows everything that everyone thinks! BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!
12 ARST People who ridicule others despise anyone who corrects them; they avoid wise people. BSB BSB: A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.
13 ARST People smile when they are happy, but feeling sad can make people despair. BSB BSB: A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
14 ARST Understanding people try to learn what they should know, but foolish people satisfy themselves with what is foolish. BSB BSB: A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 ARST What happens every day that suffering people live makes them wretched, but cheerful people live like people who are always feasting. BSB BSB: All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 ARST It is better for someone to have a few things while reverently fearing Yahweh than for someone to have a lot of riches while worrying. BSB BSB: Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
17 ARST It is better for someone to have a small meal where people love each other than to have a large meal where people hate each other. BSB BSB: Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
18 ARST People who easily become angry cause people to argue, but people who do not become angry quickly will stop people from arguing. BSB BSB: A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
19 ARST Lazy people live unproductively like{ people that have} a thorny plant{ blocking their paths}, but upright people live productively{ like people who are walking on} a road that is easy to walk on. BSB BSB: The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 ARST Wise children make their fathers happy, but foolish children detest their mothers. BSB BSB: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 ARST People who are not wise enjoy acting foolishly, but understanding people act rightly. BSB BSB: Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
22 ARST What people plan fails when no one advises them, but what people plan succeeds when many people advise them. BSB BSB: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 ARST People rejoice when they answer someone aptly. It is so good to say something at the right time! BSB BSB: A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
24 ARST How insightful people live causes them to live for a long time in order for them to avoid going to the place where dead people are. BSB BSB: The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol.
25 ARST Yahweh will destroy what proud people own, but he protects the{ few} things that widows own. BSB BSB: The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.
26 ARST Yahweh detests the evil things that people think, but the pleasing things that people say are pure. BSB BSB: The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
27 ARST People who gain wealth in an unjust manner trouble their families, but people who refuse bribes will live{ for a long time}. BSB BSB: He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 ARST Righteous people think carefully about how to reply to people, but wicked people constantly say what is evil. BSB BSB: The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
29 ARST Yahweh does not listen to wicked people, but he listens to what righteous people pray. BSB BSB: The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 ARST People feel happy when they see someone smile,{ and} people feel healthy when they hear something good. BSB BSB: The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
31 ARST People who listen when others rebuke them in a way that will keep them alive will become wise. BSB BSB: He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
32 ARST People who refuse to let others correct them{ act as if they} despise themselves, but people who listen when others rebuke them think wisely. BSB BSB: He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
33 ARST Reverently fearing Yahweh makes people wise, and people must be humble before other people respect them. BSB BSB: The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.