27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life to turn one away from the grasp of death.

28 A large population is an honor for a king, but without people a ruler is ruined.

29 A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.

30 A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body, but jealousy is like bone cancer.

31 Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.

32 A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge.

33 Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person.

Even fools recognize this.a Wise Ways to Live 34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society.

35 A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely, but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

15 1 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.

A Wise Son Brings Blessings to Others 20 A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother.

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 lifegiving 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.

Wisdom's Blessings Come from the LORD 16 1 The plans of the heart belong to humans, but an answer on the tongue comes from Yahweh.

2 A person thinks all his ways are pure, but Yahweh weighs motives.

3 Entrust your efforts to Yahweh, and your plans will succeed.

4 Yahweh has made everything for his own purpose, even wicked people for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to Yahweh.

Certainly, such a person will not go unpunished.

6 By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the LORD.

By the fear of Yahweh, evil is avoided.

7 When a person's ways are pleasing to Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better a few possessions gained honestly than many gained through injustice.

9 A person may plan his own journey, but Yahweh directs his steps.

10 When a divine revelation is on a king's lips, he cannot voice a wrong judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales belong to Yahweh.

He made the entire set of weights.

12 Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings because a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings are happy with honest words, and whoever speaks what is right is loved.

14 A king's anger announces death, but a wise man makes peace with him.

15 When the king is cheerful, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud bringing spring rain.

16 How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.

17 The highway of decent people turns away from evil.

Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.

18 Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.

19 Better to be humble with lowly people than to share stolen goods with arrogant people.

20 Whoever gives attention to the LORD's word prospers, and blessed is the person who trusts Yahweh.

21 The person who is truly wise is called understanding, and speaking sweetly helps others learn.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity.

23 A wise person's heart controls his speech, and what he says helps others learn.

24 Pleasant words are like honey from a honeycomb- sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.

Words of Advice to a Wise Son 25 There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.

26 A laborer's appetite works to his advantage, because his hunger drives him on.

27 A worthless person plots trouble, and his speech is like a burning fire.

28 A devious person spreads quarrels.

A gossip separates the closest of friends.

29 A violent person misleads his neighbor and leads him on a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.

Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.

31 Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.

32 Better to get angry slowly than to be a hero.

Better to be even-tempered than to capture a city.

33 The dice are thrown, but Yahweh determines every outcome.

17 1 Better a bite of dry bread eaten in peace than a family feast filled with strife.

2 A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully, and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.

3 The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one who purifies hearts by fire is Yahweh.

4 An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips.

A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.

5 Whoever makes fun of a poor person insults his maker.

Whoever is happy to see someone's distress will not escape punishment.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents, and parents are the glory of their children.

The Consequences of Being a Fool 7 Refined speech is not fitting for a godless fool.

How much less does lying fit a noble person!

8 A bribe seems like a jewel to the one who gives it.a Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.

10 A reprimand impresses a person who has understanding more than a hundred lashes impress a fool.

11 A rebel looks for nothing but evil.