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