1A soft answer turneth away chemah (wrath);
but harsh devarim stir up anger.

2The lashon of chachamim useth da'as aright,
but the peh (mouth) of kesilim (fools) poureth out folly.

3The eynayim of Hashem are in kol makom (every place),
watching the ra'im and the tovim.

4A marpeh lashon (a tongue of healing) is an Etz Chayyim,
but selef (perversity) therein is crushing to the ruach (spirit).

5A fool spurns his musar av,
but he that is shomer over tokhakhat (reproof) is prudent.

6In the bais of the tzaddik is much treasure,
but in the revenues of the rashah is trouble.

7The sfatayim (lips) of chachamim disperse da'as,
but the lev of kesilim doeth not so.

8The zevach of the resha'im is a to'evah to Hashem,
but the tefillah (prayer) of the yesharim is His delight.

9The derech rashah is a to'evah unto Hashem,
but He loveth him that pursueth tzedakah.

10Musar is grievous unto him that forsaketh the orach (way),
and he that hateth tokhakhat (reproof) shall die.

11Sheol and Avaddon are before Hashem,
how much more then the hearts of Bnei Adam?

12A scoffer loveth not one that correcteth him,
neither will he go unto chachamim.

13A lev same'ach maketh a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of the lev the ruach is broken.

14The lev of him that hath understanding seeketh da'as,
but the peh (mouth) of kesilim feedeth on folly.

15All the days of the oni are ra'im,
but he that is of a tov lev hath a mishteh tamid (a continual feast).

16Better is little with the Yirat Hashem
than otzar rav (great treasure) and trouble therewith.

17Better is a meal of yarak (vegetables) where love is,
than a fatted calf and sinah (hatred) therewith.

18An ish chemah (angry man) stirreth up madon (strife),
but he that is slow to anger pacifies a quarrel.

19The derech (road) of the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) is a thorny hedge,
but the orach yesharim (way of the upright) is a highway.

20A ben chacham maketh glad an av,
but a kesil adam despiseth immo.

21Folly is simchah to him that is destitute of lev, ²⁶
but an ish tevunah walketh uprightly.

22Without counsel, plans go amiss,
but in the multitude of yo'atzim (counsellors) they are established.

23An ish hath simchah in the apt reply of his peh (mouth),
and a timely davar, mah tov (how good!)

24The Orach Chayyim leads upward to the wise,
in order that he may depart from Sheol beneath.

25Hashem will destroy the bais of the proud,
but he will maintain the boundary of the almanah.

26The thoughts of the rah are a to'evah to Hashem,
but the words of the tehorim (pure ones) are pleasant.

27He that is greedy of unjust gain troubleth his own bais,
but he that hateth mattanot (bribes) shall live.

28The lev tzaddik studieth how to answer,
but the peh (mouth) of the resha'im poureth out evil things.

29Hashem is far from the resha'im,
but He heareth the tefillah of the tzaddikim.

30The ohr (light) of the eynayim rejoiceth the lev,
and a good report giveth health to the etzem.

31The ozen that heareth the tokhakhat chayyim (reproof of life)
lodgeth among chachamim.

32He that refuseth musar despiseth his own nefesh,
but he that heareth tokhakhat (reproof) getteth lev. ²⁷

33The Yirat Hashem is the musar of chochmah;
and before kavod (honor) is anavah (humility).