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-God
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17
Better a bread crust shared in love
than 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.