Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
A agentle answer turns away wrath,But a 1bharsh word stirs up anger.Lit painfulJudg 8:1-3; Prov 15:18; 25:151 Sam 25:10-132 The atongue of the wise makes knowledge 1acceptable,But the bmouth of fools spouts folly.Lit goodProv 15:7Prov 12:23; 13:16; 15:283 The aeyes of the LORD are in every place,Watching the evil and the good.2 Chr 16:9; Job 31:4; Jer 16:17; Zech 4:10; Heb 4:134 A 1soothing tongue is a tree of life,But perversion in it 2crushes the spirit.Lit healingLit is the crushing of the spirit5 A fool 1rejects his father’s discipline,But he who regards reproof is sensible.Or despises6 Great wealth is in the house of the arighteous,But trouble is in the income of the wicked.Prov 8:217 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,But the hearts of fools are not so.8 The asacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,But bthe prayer of the upright is His delight.Prov 21:27; Eccl 5:1; Is 1:11; Jer 6:20; Mic 6:7Prov 15:299 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,But He loves one who apursues righteousness.1 Tim 6:1110 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;He who hates reproof will die.11 1aSheol and 2Abaddon lie open before the LORD,How much more the bhearts of 3men!I.e. the nether worldI.e. place of destructionLit sons of AdamJob 26:6; Ps 139:81 Sam 16:7; 2 Chr 6:30; Ps 44:21; Acts 1:2412 A ascoffer does not love one who reproves him,He will not go to the wise.Prov 13:1; Amos 5:1013 A ajoyful heart makes a 1cheerful face,But 2when the heart is bsad, the cspirit is broken.Lit goodLit in sadness of heartProv 17:22Prov 12:25Prov 17:22; 18:1414 The amind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.Prov 18:1515 All the days of the afflicted are bad,But a 1cheerful heart has a continual feast.Lit good16 aBetter is a little with the 1fear of the LORDThan great treasure and turmoil with it.Or reverencePs 37:16; Prov 16:8; Eccl 4:6; 1 Tim 6:617 aBetter is a 1dish of 2vegetables where love isThan a bfattened ox served with hatred.Or portionOr herbsProv 17:1Matt 22:4; Luke 15:2318 A ahot-tempered man stirs up strife,But the bslow to anger ccalms a dispute.Prov 16:28; 26:21; 29:22Prov 14:29Gen 13:8; Prov 16:14; Eccl 10:419 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,But the path of the upright is a highway.20 A awise son makes a father glad,But a foolish man bdespises his mother.Prov 10:1; 29:3Prov 30:1721 Folly is joy to him who lacks 1sense,But a man of understanding awalks straight.Lit heartProv 14:8; Eph 5:1522 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,But with many counselors they 1succeed.Or are established23 A aman has joy in an 1apt answer,And how delightful is a timely bword!Lit answer of his mouthProv 12:14Prov 25:11; Is 50:424 The apath of life leads upward for the wiseThat he may keep away from 1Sheol below.I.e. the nether worldProv 4:1825 The LORD will atear down the house of the proud,But He will bestablish the boundary of the cwidow.Prov 12:7; 14:11Deut 19:14; Prov 23:10Ps 68:5; 146:926 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,But pleasant words are pure.27 He who aprofits illicitly troubles his own house,But he who bhates bribes will live.Prov 1:19; 28:25; 1 Tim 6:10Ex 23:8; Deut 16:19; 1 Sam 12:3; Is 33:1528 The heart of the righteous aponders how to answer,But the bmouth of the wicked pours out evil things.1 Pet 3:15Prov 10:32; 15:229 The LORD is afar from the wicked,But He bhears the prayer of the righteous.Ps 18:41; Prov 1:28Ps 145:18, 1930 1Bright eyes gladden the heart;Good news puts fat on the bones.Lit The light of the eyes gladdens31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproofWill dwell among the wise.32 He who aneglects discipline bdespises himself,But he who clistens to reproof acquires 1understanding.Lit heartProv 1:7; 8:33Prov 8:36Prov 15:533 The 1fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,And before honor comes humility.Or reverence