| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. | 1A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. |
| 2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. | 2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly. |
| 3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. | 3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good. |
| 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | 4Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit. |
| 5A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent. | 5A fool rejects his father's discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense. |
| 6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble. | 6In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. |
| 7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so. | 7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools. |
| 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. | 8The LORD abhors the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. |
| 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness. | 9The LORD abhors the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. |
| 10Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. | 10Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die. |
| 11Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. | 11Death and Destruction are before the LORD--how much more the hearts of humans! |
| 12A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise. | 12The scorner does not love one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise. |
| 13A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. | 13A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but by a painful heart the spirit is broken. |
| 14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. | 14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. |
| 15All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. | 15All the days of the afflicted are bad, but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast. |
| 16Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. | 16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth and turmoil with it. |
| 17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred. | 17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred. |
| 18A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. | 18A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel. |
| 19The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. | 19The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is like a highway. |
| 20A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. | 20A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother. |
| 21Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. | 21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course. |
| 22Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. | 22Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with abundant advisers they are established. |
| 23A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! | 23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time--how good it is! |
| 24The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below. | 24The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. |
| 25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. | 25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he maintains the boundaries of the widow. |
| 26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, But the words of the pure are pleasant. | 26The LORD abhors the plans of the wicked, but pleasant words are pure. |
| 27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. | 27The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live. |
| 28The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. | 28The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. |
| 29The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. | 29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. |
| 30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy. | 30A bright look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the body. |
| 31The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. | 31The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise. |
| 32He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. | 32The one who refuses correction despises himself, but whoever hears reproof acquires understanding. |
| 33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. | 33The fear of the LORD provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility. |
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