1溫和的回答平息怒氣，
粗暴的言詞激起憤怒。
2智者的舌頭傳揚知識，
愚人的嘴巴吐露愚昧。
3耶和華的眼目無所不在，
善人和惡人都被祂鑒察。
4溫和的言詞帶來生命，
乖謬的話語傷透人心。
5愚人蔑視父親的管教，
接受責備的才算明智。
6義人家中財富充足，
惡人得利惹來禍患。
7智者的嘴傳揚知識，
愚人的心並非如此。
8耶和華憎恨惡人的祭物，
悅納正直人的祈禱。
9耶和華憎恨惡人的行徑，
喜愛追求公義的人。
10背離正道，必遭嚴懲；
厭惡責備，必致死亡。
11陰間和冥府15·11 「冥府」希伯來文是「亞巴頓」，參考啟示錄9·11。在耶和華面前尚且無法隱藏，
何況世人的心思呢！
12嘲諷者不愛聽責備，
也不願請教智者。
13心中喜樂，容光煥發；
心裡悲傷，精神頹喪。
14哲士渴慕知識，
愚人安於愚昧。
15困苦人天天受煎熬，
樂觀者常常有喜樂。
16財物雖少但敬畏耶和華，
勝過家財萬貫卻充滿煩惱。
17粗茶淡飯但彼此相愛，
勝過美酒佳餚卻互相憎恨。
18脾氣暴躁，惹起爭端；
忍耐克制，平息糾紛。
19懶惰人的路佈滿荊棘，
正直人的道平坦寬闊。
20智慧之子使父親歡喜，
愚昧的人卻藐視母親。
21無知者以愚昧為樂，
明哲人遵循正道。
22獨斷專行，計劃失敗；
集思廣益，事無不成。
23應對得體，心中愉快；
言語合宜，何等美好！
24智者循生命之路上升，
以免墜入陰間。
25耶和華拆毀傲慢人的房屋，
祂使寡婦的地界完整無損。
26耶和華憎恨惡人的意念，
喜愛純潔的言語。
27貪愛財富，自害己家；
厭惡賄賂，安然存活。
28義人三思而後答，
惡人張口吐惡言。
29耶和華遠離惡人，
卻聽義人的禱告。
30笑顏令人心喜，
喜訊滋潤骨頭。
31傾聽生命的訓誡，
使人與智者同列。
32不受管教就是輕看自己，
聽從責備才能得到智慧。
33敬畏耶和華使人得智慧，
學會謙卑後才能得尊榮。
1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.15.2 poureth: Heb. belcheth, or, bubbleth 3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.15.4 A wholesome…: Heb. The healing of the tongue 5A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. 10Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.15.10 Correction: or, Instruction 11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. 13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. 15All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. 17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.15.19 is made…: Heb. is raised up as a causey 20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. 21Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.15.21 destitute…: Heb. void of heart 22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!15.23 due…: Heb. his season 24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. 25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.15.26 pleasant…: Heb. words of pleasantness 27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. 28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 31The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.15.32 instruction: or, correction15.32 heareth: or, obeyeth15.32 getteth…: Heb. possesseth an heart 33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
