1A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
3God doesn't miss a thing— he's alert to good and evil alike.
4Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
5Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
6The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
7Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow—there's nothing to them.
8God can't stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers.
9A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
10It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.
11Even hell holds no secrets from God— do you think he can't read human hearts?
12Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women.
13A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
14An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
15A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
16A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
18Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
19The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.
20Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.
21The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
22Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.
23Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful!
24Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful— it's a clean about-face from descent into hell.
25God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.
26God can't stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
27A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
28Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse.
29God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
30A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
31Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.
32An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
33Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living— first you learn humility, then you experience glory.