A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a galling response raises wrath.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

The tongue of the wise will perfect wisdom, but the mouth of fools will spout folly.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.

In every place, the eyes of the L-rd see the evil and the good.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit.

A soft tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness with it [leads to] breaking by the [(east)] wind.

A fool despises his father’s correction: but he that regards reproof is prudent.

The fool despises the mussar of his father, but he who guards chastisement will grow wise.

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

The house of the righteous one [i.e., the Temple, built by David] is a tower of strength [(to Israel)], but with the entrance of wickedness [(the idolatry brought there by Menasheh)] it is polluted.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish is vanity.

The lips of the wise crown wisdom; not so, the heart of fools.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The offering of the wicked [(Balak and Bilam)] is an abomination to the L-rd, and the prayer of the just [(Moses)] is His desire.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he who follows after righteousness He will love.

The path of the wicked is an abomination to the L-rd, and he who pursues righteousness is beloved by Him.

There is a severe correction for him who forsakes the way: he who hates re- proof shall die.

Severe afflictions await the forsaker of the path [of the L-rd]; the hater of chastisement will die.

She᾽ol and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

The grave and perdition [i.e., Gehinnom] are revealed to the L-rd; how much more so the hearts of men.

A scorner does not like to be reproved; nor will he go to the wise.

The fool does not like being chastised; he will not go to the wise.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

A happy heart brightens the Countenance [i.e., If one gladdens the L-rd's heart (by walking in His ways), He will look with favor upon him and do His will)], but saddening of [His] heart, [rouses] a spirit of anger.

The heart of the judicious seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

An understanding heart will pursue wisdom, but the mouth of fools will befriend folly.

All the days of the poor are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

All the days of the poor man [(even Sabbaths and festivals)] are evil [("A change of regimen brings on intestinal disorder")]; but the good-hearted [i.e., one who is happy with what he possesses] (enjoys) a perpetual feast.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble with it.

Better a little gained through fear of the L-rd than a great treasure amassed over [the] cries [of the despoiled].

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

Better a meal of greens [(given to the poor)] where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred.

A wrathful man stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

The man of wrath incites strife, and the patient of spirit quiets a quarrel [(in the bud)].

The way of a sluggard is as hedged in with thorns: but the path of the righteous is level.

The way of the sluggard is fenced with thorns [(in his eyes)], but the path of the just is paved.

A Wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.

The wise son rejoices his father, and the fool among men brings shame upon his mother.

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks straight forward.

Folly is joy to him who lacks a heart, but the man of understanding [will rejoice] when he walks justly.

Without counsel purposes are frustrated: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Thoughts are voided for lack of counsel, and in an abundance of counselors they are established.

A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word in due season, how good it is!

A man rejoices in the answer of his mouth [i.e., a soft reply causes men to love him], and a word in its time [i.e., apt responses to inquiries on festival halachoth] — how good it is!

The way of life for the wise leads upward, that he may depart from She᾽ol beneath.

A path of life [is readied] for the wise man above, so that his soul turn away from Sheol beneath.

The Lord will pluck up the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

The L-rd will uproot the dwelling of the proud and establish [in its place] the boundary of the widow.

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but pleasant words are pure.

The abomination of the L-rd is [soft speech with] wicked thoughts; words of pleasantness [should be entirely] pure.

He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates gifts shall live.

He who steals sullies his home, but the hater [even] of gifts [(and not only of theft)] will live.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The heart of the righteous one will consider [what] to answer, but the mouth of the wicked will spout evils.

The Lord is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

The L-rd is far from the wicked, but He will hear the prayer of the righteous.

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones fat.

The [de-] light of the eyes [(such as green gardens and flowing rivers)] rejoices the heart [(and dispels sadness)]; a good report fattens the bone.

The ear that listens to the reproof of life abides among the wise.

The ear that attends to the reproof [that brings] life will come to abide in the midst of the wise.

He that refuses correction despises his own soul: but he that listens to reproof gets understanding.

He who rejects mussar despises his soul, and he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom; and humility goes before honour.

The fear of the L-rd is chastisement [(towards the acquisition)] of wisdom, and humility leads to honor.