| English Standard 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 commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. | 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 gentle 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 whoever heeds reproof 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 trouble befalls the income of the wicked. | 6In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. |
| 7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. | 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 acceptable to him. | 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 pursues righteousness. | 9The LORD abhors the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. |
| 10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. | 10Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die. |
| 11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! | 11Death and Destruction are before the LORD--how much more the hearts of humans! |
| 12A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. | 12The scorner does not love one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise. |
| 13A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. | 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 mouths of fools feed on folly. | 14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. |
| 15All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of 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 and trouble with it. | 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 fattened ox and hatred with it. | 17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred. |
| 18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. | 18A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel. |
| 19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level 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 glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. | 20A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother. |
| 21Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. | 21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course. |
| 22Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | 22Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with abundant advisers they are established. |
| 23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in 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 path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. | 24The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. |
| 25The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries. | 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 gracious words are pure. | 26The LORD abhors the plans of the wicked, but pleasant words are pure. |
| 27Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, 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 ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. | 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 good news refreshes the bones. | 30A bright look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the body. |
| 31The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. | 31The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise. |
| 32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. | 32The one who refuses correction despises himself, but whoever hears reproof acquires understanding. |
| 33The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. | 33The fear of the LORD provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility. |
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