Proverbs 15

1 A 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.s3 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.s5 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.s11 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.s20 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.s22 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!s24 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.s27 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.sss33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 16

1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.s2 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.s4 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.s6 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.s11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.s12 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.s21 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.s24 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.ss

27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.s28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.s

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.

Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.s2 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.s6 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.ss8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.s9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.s10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.s11 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.s19 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.s21 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.s23 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.s28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.