A SOFT answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
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 unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

1The Prouerbes of Solomon the sonne of Dauid, King of Israel,

2To knowe wisedome and instruction, to perceiue the words of vnderstanding,

3To receiue the instruction of wisdome, iustice, and iudgement & equitie,

4To giue subtiltie to the simple, to the yong man knowledge and discretion.

5A wise man wil heare, and wil increase learning: and a man of vnderstanding shall attaine vnto wise counsels:

6To vnderstand a prouerbe, and the interpretation; the wordes of the wise, and their darke sayings.

7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.

8My sonne, heare the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

9For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thy head, and chaines about thy necke.

10 My sonne, if sinners entise thee, consent thou not.

11If they say, Come with vs, let vs lay wait for blood, let vs lurke priuily for the innocent without cause:

12Let vs swallow them vp aliue, as the graue, and whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:

13Wee shall finde all precious substance, wee shall fill our houses with spoile:

14Cast in thy lot among vs, let vs all haue one purse:

15My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them; refraine thy foot from their path:

16For their feete runne to euil, and make haste to shed blood.

17Surely in vaine the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18And they lay wait for their owne blood, they lurke priuily for their owne liues.

19So are the waies of euery one that is greedie of gaine: which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisedome crieth without, she vttereth her voice in the streets:

21Shee crieth in the chiefe place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she vttereth her words, saying,

22How long, ye simple ones, will ye loue simplicitie? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fooles hate knowledge?

23Turne you at my reproofe: behold, I will powre out my spirit vnto you, I will make knowen my wordes vnto you.

24 Because I haue called, and yee refused, I haue stretched out my hand, and no man regarded:

25But ye haue set at nought all my counsell, & would none of my reproofe:

26I also will laugh at your calamitie, I wil mocke when your feare commeth.

27When your feare commeth as desolation, and your destruction commeth as a whirlewinde; when distresse and anguish commeth vpon you:

28Then shall they call vpon mee, but I will not answere; they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me:

29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the feare of the Lord.

30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproofe.

31Therefore shall they eate of the fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuices.

32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them.

33But who so hearkneth vnto mee, shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from feare of euill.

I == Judg 8:1-3 ; 25:15 ; 1st Sam 25:10 ; 1st Kings 12:13-14 , 16

II == Prov 12:28 ; 13:16 ; 15:28

III == Job 5:21 ; 34:21 ; Jedr 16:17 ; 32:19 ; Heb 4:13

V == Prov 10:1 ; 13:8 ; 15:31-32

 

 

 

VIII == Prov 21:27 ; 28:9 ; Isa 1:11 ; 61:8 ; 66:3 ; Jer 6:20 ; 7:22 ; Amos 5:22

 

IX == 1st Tim 6:11

 

 

XI == Job 26:6 ; John 2:24-25 ; 21:17 ; Acts 1:24

 

XII == Amos 5:10 ; 2nd Tim 4:3

 

 

 

XV == Prov 17:22

XVI == Ps 37:16 ; Prov 16:8 ; 1st Tim 6:6

 

XVII == Prov 17:1

XVIII == Prov 26:21 ; 29:22

XIX == Prov 22:15

XX == Prov 10:1 ; 29:3

XXI == Prov 10:23 ; Eph 5:15

 

XXII == Prov 11:14 ; 20:18

 

 

 

XXIV == Phil 3:20 ; Col 3:1-2

XXV == Ps 68:5-6 ; 146:9 ; Prov 12:7 ; 14:11

XXVI == Prov 6:16 , 18 ; 37:30

 

XXVII == Prov 11:19 ; Isa 5:8 ; Jer 17:11

XXVIII == 1st Peter 3:15

XXIX == Ps 10:1 ; 34:16 ; 145:18-19

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == Prov 1:7 ; 18:12

 

1 A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise pours out knowledge, but the mouth of fools spurts forth folly.

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

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one crushes the spirit.

5 The fool spurns his father's admonition, but prudent is he who heeds reproof.

6 In the house of the just there are ample resources, but the earnings of the wicked are in turmoil.

7 The lips of the wise disseminate knowledge, but the heart of fools is perverted.

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 the man who pursues virtue.

10 Severe punishment is in store for the man who goes astray; he who hates reproof will die.

11 The nether world and the abyss lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of men!

12 The senseless man loves not to be reproved; to wise men he will not go.

13 A glad heart lights up the face, but by mental anguish the spirit is broken.

14 The mind of the intelligent man seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

15 Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast.

16 Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with anxiety.

17 Better a dish of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

18 An ill-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man allays discord.

19 The way of the sluggard is hemmed in as with thorns, but the path of the diligent is a highway.

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

21 Folly is joy to the senseless man, but the man of understanding goes the straight way.

22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many.

23 There is joy for a man in his utterance; a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads the prudent man upward, that he may avoid the nether world below.

25 The LORD overturns the house of the proud, but he preserves intact the widow's landmark.

26 The wicked man's schemes are an abomination to the LORD, but the pure speak what is pleasing to him.

27 He who is greedy of gain brings ruin on his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The just man weighs well his utterance, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but the prayer of the just he hears.

30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart; good news invigorates the bones.

31 He who listens to salutary reproof will abide among the wise.

32 He who rejects admonition despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gains understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom, and humility goes before honors.

v 1. “A soft answer turneth away wrath”. For other verses regarding speaking in this chapter see 2, 4, 7, 14 and 23 and the Lord sees it, v 3. More on anger, v 18.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 8,9,26 express wickedness as an abominations before the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 13. This verse is better than pills. More on the merry heart, v 15.

 

 

 

 

v 16,17 place poverty with love and fear of the Lord over wealth and anger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 27 denounces greed and v 33 extols humility. Too many good verses to list.