14 A wise woman strengthens her family,

but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.

2  People who live good lives respect the Lord,

but those who live evil lives don’t.

3  Fools will be punished for their proud words,

but the words of the wise will protect them.

4  When there are no oxen, no food is in the barn.

But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.

5  A truthful witness does not lie,

but a false witness tells nothing but lies.

6  Those who make fun of wisdom look for it and do not find it,

but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

7  Stay away from fools,

because they can’t teach you anything.

8  A wise person will understand what to do,

but a foolish person is dishonest.

9  Fools don’t care if they sin,

but honest people work at being right.

10  No one else can know your sadness,

and strangers cannot share your joy.

11  The wicked person’s house will be destroyed,

but a good person’s tent will still be standing.

12  Some people think they are doing right,

but in the end it leads to death.

13  Someone who is laughing may be sad inside,

and joy may end in sadness.

14  Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways,

and good people will be rewarded for their good ones.

15  Fools will believe anything,

but the wise think about what they do.

16  Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble,

but fools are careless and quick to act.

17  Someone with a quick temper does foolish things,

but someone with understanding remains calm.

18  Fools are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness,

but the wise are rewarded with knowledge.

19  Evil people will bow down to those who are good;

the wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.

20  The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors,

but the rich have many friends.

21  It is a sin to hate your neighbor,

but being kind to the needy brings happiness.

22  Those who make evil plans will be ruined,

but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted.

23  Those who work hard make a profit,

but those who only talk will be poor.

24  Wise people are rewarded with wealth,

but fools only get more foolishness.

25  A truthful witness saves lives,

but a false witness is a traitor.

26  Those who respect the Lord will have security,

and their children will be protected.

27  Respect for the Lord gives life.

It is like a fountain that can save people from death.

28  A king is honored when he has many people to rule,

but a prince is ruined if he has none.

29  Patient people have great understanding,

but people with quick tempers show their foolishness.

30  Peace of mind means a healthy body,

but jealousy will rot your bones.

31  Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

32  The wicked are ruined by their own evil,

but those who do right are protected even in death.

33  Wisdom lives in those with understanding,

and even fools recognize it.

34  Doing what is right makes a nation great,

but sin will bring disgrace to any people.

35  A king is pleased with a wise servant,

but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.

15 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger,

but an unkind answer will cause more anger.

2  Wise people use knowledge when they speak,

but fools pour out foolishness.

3  The Lord’s eyes see everything;

he watches both evil and good people.

4  As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life,

but dishonest words crush the spirit.

5  Fools reject their parents’ correction,

but anyone who accepts correction is wise.

6  Much wealth is in the houses of good people,

but evil people get nothing but trouble.

7  Wise people use their words to spread knowledge,

but there is no knowledge in the thoughts of fools.

8  The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked offer,

but he likes the prayers of honest people.

9  The Lord hates what evil people do,

but he loves those who do what is right.

10  The person who quits doing what is right will be punished,

and the one who hates to be corrected will die.

11  The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead,

so he surely knows the thoughts of the living.

12  Those who make fun of wisdom don’t like to be corrected;

they will not ask the wise for advice.

13  Happiness makes a person smile,

but sadness can break a person’s spirit.

14  People with understanding want more knowledge,

but fools just want more foolishness.

15  Every day is hard for those who suffer,

but a happy heart is like a continual feast.

16  It is better to be poor and respect the Lord

than to be wealthy and have much trouble.

17  It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you

than to eat meat with those who hate you.

18  People with quick tempers cause trouble,

but those who control their tempers stop a quarrel.

19  A lazy person’s life is like a patch of thorns,

but an honest person’s life is like a smooth highway.

20  Wise children make their father happy,

but foolish children disrespect their mother.

21  A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish,

but someone with understanding does what is right.

22  Plans fail without good advice,

but they succeed with the advice of many others.

23  People enjoy giving good advice.

Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.

24  Wise people’s lives get better and better.

They avoid whatever would cause their death.

25  The Lord will tear down the proud person’s house,

but he will protect the widow’s property.

26  The Lord hates evil thoughts

but is pleased with kind words.

27  Greedy people bring trouble to their families,

but the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.

28  Good people think before they answer,

but the wicked simply pour out evil.

29  The Lord does not listen to the wicked,

but he hears the prayers of those who do right.

30  Good news makes you feel better.

Your happiness will show in your eyes.

31  If you listen to correction to improve your life,

you will live among the wise.

32  Those who refuse correction hate themselves,

but those who accept correction gain understanding.

33  Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom.

If you want to be honored, you must be humble.

16 People may make plans in their minds,

but only the Lord can make them come true.

2  You may believe you are doing right,

but the Lord will judge your reasons.

3  Depend on the Lord in whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.

4  The Lord makes everything go as he pleases.

He has even prepared a day of disaster for evil people.

5  The Lord hates those who are proud.

They will surely be punished.

6  Love and truth bring forgiveness of sin.

By respecting the Lord you will avoid evil.

7  When people live so that they please the Lord,

even their enemies will make peace with them.

8  It is better to be poor and right

than to be wealthy and dishonest.

9  People may make plans in their minds,

but the Lord decides what they will do.

10  The words of a king are like a message from God,

so his decisions should be fair.

11  The Lord wants honest balances and scales;

all the weights are his work.

12  Kings hate those who do wrong,

because governments only continue if they are fair.

13  Kings like honest people;

they value someone who speaks the truth.

14  An angry king can put someone to death,

so a wise person will try to make him happy.

15  A smiling king can give people life;

his kindness is like a spring shower.

16  It is better to get wisdom than gold,

and to choose understanding rather than silver!

17  Good people stay away from evil.

By watching what they do, they protect their lives.

18  Pride leads to destruction;

a proud attitude brings ruin.

19  It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer

than to share stolen property with the proud.

20  Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed,

and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy.

21  The wise are known for their understanding.

Their pleasant words make them better teachers.

22  Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it,

but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

23  Wise people’s minds tell them what to say,

and that helps them be better teachers.

24  Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

making people happy and healthy.

25  Some people think they are doing right,

but in the end it leads to death.

26  The workers’ hunger helps them,

because their desire to eat makes them work.

27  Useless people make evil plans,

and their words are like a burning fire.

28  A useless person causes trouble,

and a gossip ruins friendships.

29  Cruel people trick their neighbors

and lead them to do wrong.

30  Someone who winks is planning evil,

and the one who grins is planning something wrong.

31  Gray hair is like a crown of honor;

it is earned by living a good life.

32  Patience is better than strength.

Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.

33  People throw lots to make a decision,

but the answer comes from the Lord.