Contrast of 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 pleasant,But the bmouth of fools spouts foolishness.Prov 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 complies with rebuke 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 the one who apursues righteousness.1 Tim 6:1110 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;One who hates a rebuke will die.11 1aSheol and 2Abaddon lie open before the LORD,How much more the bhearts of 3mankind!I.e., The netherworldI.e., place of destructionLit sons of mankindJob 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 rebukes 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 foolishness.Prov 18:1515 All the days of the 1needy are bad,But a 2cheerful heart has a continual feast.Or wretchedLit good16 aBetter is a little with 1the fear of the LORDThan great treasure, and turmoil with 2the treasure.Or reverence forLit itPs 37:16; Prov 16:8; Eccl 4:6; 1 Tim 6:617 aBetter is a portion of 1vegetables where there is love,Than a bfattened ox served with hatred.Or herbsProv 17:1Matt 22:4; Luke 15:2318 A ahot-tempered person 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 1lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,But the path of the upright is a highway.Lit idle20 A awise son makes a father glad,But a foolish man bdespises his mother.Prov 10:1; 29:3Prov 30:1721 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks 1sense,But a person 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 aperson 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 wise,So that he may keep away from 1Sheol below.I.e., the netherworldProv 4:1825 The LORD will atear down the house of the proud,But He will bset 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 2refreshes the bones.Lit The light of the eyes gladdensLit makes fat31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebukeWill stay among the wise.32 One who aneglects discipline brejects himself,But one who clistens to a rebuke acquires 1understanding.Lit heartProv 1:7; 8:33Prov 8:36Prov 15:533 1The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,And before honor comes humility.Or Reverence for