15:1A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

15:2The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

15:3In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.

15:4A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

15:5A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.

15:6In the house of the righteous is abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked -- trouble.

15:7The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools is not right.

15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright is His delight.

15:9An abomination to Jehovah is the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.

15:10Chastisement is grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

15:11Sheol and destruction are before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.

15:12A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.

15:13A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

15:14The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

15:15All the days of the afflicted are evil, And gladness of heart is a perpetual banquet.

15:16Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

15:17Better is an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

15:18A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

15:19The way of the slothful is as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

15:20A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

15:21Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth his going.

15:22Without counsel is the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.

15:23Joy is to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season -- how good!

15:24A path of life is on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

15:25The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.

15:26An abomination to Jehovah are thoughts of wickedness, And pure are sayings of pleasantness.

15:27A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

15:28The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.

15:29Far is Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.

15:30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.

15:31An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

15:32Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.

15:33The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, And before honour is humility!

16:1Of man are arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.

16:2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.

16:3Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,

16:4All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked worketh for a day of evil.

16:5An abomination to Jehovah is every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.

16:6In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.

16:7When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

16:8Better is a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

16:9The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

16:10An oath is on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

16:11A just beam and balances are Jehovah's, His work are all the stones of the bag.

16:12An abomination to kings is doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

16:13The delight of kings are righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

16:14The fury of a king is messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.

16:15In the light of a king's face is life, And his good-will is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16:16To get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

16:17A highway of the upright is, `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

16:18Before destruction is pride, And before stumbling -- a haughty spirit.'

16:19Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

16:20The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.

16:21To the wise in heart is called, `Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

16:22A fountain of life is understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.

16:23The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,

16:24Sayings of pleasantness are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

16:25There is a way right before a man, And its latter end -- ways of death.

16:26A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused him to bend over it.

16:27A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips -- as a burning fire.

16:28A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.

16:29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.

16:30Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.

16:31A crown of beauty are grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.

16:32Better is the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

16:33Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah is all its judgment!

17:1Better is a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

17:2A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

17:3A refining pot is for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts is Jehovah.

17:4An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

17:5Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

17:6Sons' sons are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons are their fathers.

17:7Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

17:8A stone of grace is the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

17:9Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

17:10Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

17:11An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

17:12The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.

17:13Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

17:14The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

17:15Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these are an abomination to Jehovah.

17:16Why is this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

17:17At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

17:18A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.

17:19Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.

17:20The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.

17:21Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

17:22A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

17:23A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.

17:24The face of the intelligent is to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.

17:25A provocation to his father is a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

17:26Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

17:27One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper is a man of understanding.

17:28Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

18:1For an object of desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

18:2A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.

18:3With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.

18:4Deep waters are the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

18:5Acceptance of the face of the wicked is not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

18:6The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.

18:7The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

18:8The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.

18:9He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he is to a destroyer.

18:10A tower of strength is the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.

18:11The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

18:12Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour is humility.

18:13Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

18:14The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

18:15The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

18:16The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.

18:17Righteous is the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

18:18The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.

18:19A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.

18:20From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, From the increase of his lips he is satisfied.

18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

18:22Whoso hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

18:23With supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

18:24A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!