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 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.
