Gentle Words and Harsh Words
Study note
The chapter opens with one of the most practical proverbs ever written: a gentle answer calms anger, while harsh words stir it up. Several proverbs in this section deal with how words affect other people. A healing tongue is like a tree of life, but a lying tongue breaks the spirit.
1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 Wise people know how to present knowledge in an appealing way, but a fool's mouth gushes out nothing but nonsense. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3 The Lord sees everything that happens everywhere. He is watching both the people who do evil and the people who do good. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 Healing words from a gentle tongue are like a tree that gives life, but a tongue that twists the truth breaks people's spirits. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
5 Only a fool blows off a parent's discipline. Someone who accepts correction shows real intelligence. A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
6 The home of a good person is full of great things. But the money the wicked earn only leads to more trouble. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 Wise people share knowledge wherever they go, but the hearts of fools have nothing worth sharing. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
What the Lord Sees and Loves
Study note
These proverbs reveal what God sees and values. He watches every place and every person. He hates the offerings of the wicked but loves the prayers of the upright. He sees even the depths of the grave, so of course He knows every human heart. A cheerful heart shows on a person's face, while sorrow crushes the spirit.
8 When wicked people bring sacrifices to God, he finds it disgusting. But when people who live right pray to him, it makes his day. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The Lord hates the lifestyle of the wicked. But he truly loves anyone who goes all out doing what is right. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 Anyone who wanders from the right path will face harsh results. Anyone who hates being told they are wrong is heading toward death. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Even death and ruin lie wide open before the Lord. So how much more can he see the human heart! Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12 A mocker hates being told they are wrong and refuses to go to a wise person for help. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
13 When your heart is happy, it shows up on your face. But when your heart hurts, your whole spirit feels crushed. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 A person who understands things always wants more knowledge. But a fool only has a taste for more foolishness. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
15 For the person who is struggling, every day feels hard. But someone with a cheerful outlook experiences life like one long celebration. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Better a Little with God
Study note
Two famous 'better than' proverbs appear here: it is better to have little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with trouble, and it is better to have a simple meal of vegetables with love than a feast with hatred. These proverbs teach that inner peace and loving relationships matter more than money.
16 Owning very little while honoring the Lord beats having a fortune that comes with constant stress. Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 A simple dinner of vegetables served with love beats the most expensive steak dinner served with hatred. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 Someone with a short temper keeps starting fights. But someone who stays patient can cool down even the hottest argument. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19 A lazy person's life feels blocked with thorns at every turn. But the person who does right finds a clear, open road. The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20 A child who chooses wisdom fills a parent's heart with joy, but a foolish person treats their own mother with contempt. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 For someone with no sense, foolishness is pure entertainment. But a person with real understanding stays focused on living right. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
22 Without thoughtful input from others, your plans collapse. But when you gather advice from wise people, your plans succeed. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Wise Counsel and Humble Learning
Study note
The chapter closes with proverbs about the value of good advice, honest answers, and the beauty of the right word spoken at the right time. The Lord tears down the house of the proud but protects the property of the widow. True wisdom ends with humility, and honor comes after it.
23 It feels so good to give the perfect answer. What a gift it is when the right word comes at just the right time! A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The wise person's road through life leads upward, steering them away from the downward path to the grave. The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house that proud people build. But he puts a protective wall around what belongs to the widow. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
26 Wicked schemes make the Lord sick, but gentle, kind words are beautiful in his sight. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27 Chasing money through greed brings disaster to your family, but turning down bribes will keep you alive. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
28 A good person stops and thinks before speaking. But a wicked person lets evil flow out without any filter. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
29 The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but the prayers of righteous people reach his ears directly. The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 A warm, cheerful look brings happiness to the heart. Hearing good news gives a boost to your whole body. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
31 If you are willing to listen to feedback that helps you grow, you will fit right in among wise people. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 Brushing off instruction shows you do not even value yourself. But listening to correction builds your understanding. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 Honoring the Lord is what teaches you wisdom. You must learn to be humble before you can receive honor. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.