ch15 ¹A 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 counsellors 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.

ch16 ¹The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD. ² All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. ³ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ⁴ The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵ Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. ⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil. ⁷ When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸ Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. ⁹ A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ¹⁰ A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. ¹¹ A just weight and balance [are] the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag [are] his work. ¹² It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³ Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. ¹⁴ The wrath of a king [is as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵ In the light of the king's countenance [is] life; and his favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain. ¹⁶ How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! ¹⁷ The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. ¹⁸ Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. ²⁰ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he. ²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. ²² Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly. ²³ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. ²⁴ Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ²⁵ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. ²⁶ He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. ²⁷ An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire. ²⁸ A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. ²⁹ A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good. ³⁰ He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass. ³¹ The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness. ³² He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ³³ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.

ch17 ¹Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife. ² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. ³ The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. ⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. ⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. ⁶ Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers. ⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. ⁸ A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. ⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends. ¹⁰ A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. ¹¹ An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. ¹² Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. ¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. ¹⁴ The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. ¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD. ¹⁶ Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]? ¹⁷ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸ A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend. ¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. ²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. ²¹ He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. ²² A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. ²³ A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. ²⁴ Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth. ²⁵ A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. ²⁶ Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity. ²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. ²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.

ch18 ¹Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom. ² A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. ³ When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. ⁴ The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook. ⁵ It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. ⁶ A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. ⁷ A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul. ⁸ The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. ⁹ He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. ¹⁰ The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. ¹¹ The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility. ¹³ He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him. ¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? ¹⁵ The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. ¹⁶ A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. ¹⁷ He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. ¹⁸ The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. ¹⁹ A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle. ²⁰ A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. ²¹ Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. ²² [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD. ²³ The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. ²⁴ A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

ch19 ¹Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool. ² Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth. ³ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. ⁴ Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. ⁵ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape. ⁶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts. ⁷ All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [to him]. ⁸ He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. ⁹ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish. ¹⁰ Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. ¹¹ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression. ¹² The king's wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass. ¹³ A foolish son [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping. ¹⁴ House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD. ¹⁵ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. ¹⁶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die. ¹⁷ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. ¹⁸ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. ¹⁹ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again. ²⁰ Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ²¹ [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. ²² The desire of a man [is] his kindness: and a poor man [is] better than a liar. ²³ The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. ²⁴ A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. ²⁵ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge. ²⁶ He that wasteth [his] father, [and] chaseth away [his] mother, [is] a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. ²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge. ²⁸ An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. ²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.