1Et hårdt svar vækker vrede,
forsonende ord kan afværge et skænderi.
2Fra den kloges mund kommer en strøm af visdomsord,
fra tåbens mund kommer en flod af tåbeligheder.
3Herren spejder ud over jorden,
han ser både de onde og de gode.
4Opmuntrende ord giver mod på livet,
nedsættende ord giver sår i sjælen.
5Kun en tåbe foragter sin fars formaning,
en fornuftig søn tager imod vejledning.
6De retskafne opnår succes og velstand,
de onde mister det, de har samlet.
7Der kommer visdom fra den kloges mund,
det gør der ikke fra tåbens tanker.
8Herren afskyr de gudløses offergaver,
men glæder sig over gudfrygtiges bønner.
9Herren afskyr den ondes handlemåde,
men han elsker den, der gør det rette.
10De, der gør oprør imod Gud, bliver straffet,
og hvis de fortsætter deres oprør, skal de dø.
11Herren kender underverdenens afkroge og dødsrigets dybder.
Mon et menneskes inderste væsen er ukendt for ham?
12De hovmodige hader at blive sat i rette,
derfor holder de sig væk fra de vise.
13Indre glæde giver et smilende ansigt,
et sorgfuldt hjerte tager livsmodet væk.
14Den kloge søger altid ny indsigt,
tåben tygger drøv på sine dumheder.
15For den nedtrykte er hver dag en dårlig dag,
den glade har altid gode dage.
16Et nøjsomt liv i ærefrygt for Gud
er bedre end et liv i rigdom og angst.
17Hellere spise vandgrød med dem, man elsker,
end oksesteg med dem, man hader.
18En hidsig person skaber splid og ufred,
et tålmodigt menneske gyder olie på vandene.
19Den dovne synes, at vejen er overgroet med tidsler,
den flittige synes, at vejen er bred og problemfri.
20Et klogt barn glæder sin far,
kun en tåbe gør nar af sin mor.
21Den uforstandige er godt tilfreds med sine dumheder,
den kloge har forstand til at gøre det rigtige.
22Uden god rådgivning går en plan let i vasken,
men når mange tages med på råd, lykkes den.
23Det er en glæde at kunne give et godt råd,
dejligt at kunne sige det forløsende ord.
24Den vise vælger vejen til et godt liv
frem for vejen til en ynkelig død.
25Herren nedriver den hovmodiges hus,
men beskytter enkers ejendom.
26Herren afskyr de ondes tanker,
men glæder sig over gode ord.
27Den pengegriske bringer sin familie i ulykke,
den, der afslår bestikkelse, klarer sig godt.
28De retskafne tænker, før de taler,
men ondskaben vælter ud af de gudløses mund.
29Herren hører de gudfrygtiges bønner,
men holder sig fjernt fra onde mennesker.
30Et smil varmer hjertet,
gode nyheder giver ny styrke.
31Den, der er villig til at blive vejledt,
vil føle sig hjemme blandt de vise.
32Den, der nægter at blive irettesat, modarbejder sig selv,
den, der tager godt imod kritik, vokser i visdom.
33Ærefrygt for Gud er vejen til visdom,
ydmyghed går forud for ære.
1A gentle answer turns anger away.
But mean words stir up anger.
2The tongues of wise people use knowledge well.
But the mouths of foolish people pour out foolish words.
3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere.
They watch those who are evil and those who are good.
4A tongue that calms is like a tree of life.
But a tongue that tells lies produces a broken spirit.
5A foolish person turns their back on their parent’s correction.
But anyone who accepts correction shows understanding.
6The houses of those who do what is right hold great wealth.
But those who do what is wrong earn only ruin.
7The lips of wise people spread knowledge.
But the hearts of foolish people are not honest.
8The Lord hates the sacrifice of sinful people.
But the prayers of honest people please him.
9The Lord hates how sinners live.
But he loves those who run after what is right.
10Hard training is in store for anyone who leaves the right path.
A person who hates to be corrected will die.
11Death and the Grave lie open in front of the Lord.
So human hearts certainly lie open to him!
12People who make fun of others don’t like to be corrected.
So they stay away from wise people.
13A happy heart makes a face look cheerful.
But a sad heart produces a broken spirit.
14A heart that understands what is right looks for knowledge.
But the mouths of foolish people feed on what is foolish.
15All the days of those who are crushed are filled with pain and suffering.
But a cheerful heart enjoys a good time that never ends.
16It is better to have respect for the Lord and have little
than to be rich and have trouble.
17A few vegetables where there is love
are better than the finest meat where there is hatred.
18A person with a bad temper stirs up conflict.
But a person who is patient calms things down.
19The way of people who don’t want to work is blocked with thorns.
But the path of honest people is a wide road.
20A wise son makes his father glad.
But a foolish son hates his mother.
21A person who has no sense enjoys doing foolish things.
But a person who has understanding walks straight ahead.
22Plans fail without good advice.
But they succeed when there are many advisers.
23Joy is found in giving the right answer.
And how good is a word spoken at the right time!
24The path of life leads up for those who are wise.
It keeps them from going down to the place of the dead.
25The Lord tears down the proud person’s house.
But he keeps the widow’s property safe.
26The Lord hates the thoughts of sinful people.
But he considers kind words to be pure.
27Those who always want more bring ruin to their households.
But a person who refuses to be paid to lie will live.
28The hearts of those who do right think about how they will answer.
But the mouths of those who do wrong pour out evil.
29The Lord is far away from those who do wrong.
But he hears the prayers of those who do right.
30The cheerful look of a messenger brings joy to your heart.
And good news gives health to your body.
31Whoever listens to a warning that gives life
will be at home among those who are wise.
32Those who turn away from correction hate themselves.
But anyone who accepts correction gains understanding.
33Wisdom teaches you to have respect for the Lord.
So don’t be proud if you want to be honored.
