Daily Bible Reading

1A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5A fool despises his father’s instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

whoever hates reproof will die.

11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;

how much more the hearts of the children of man!

12A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

13A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

22Without counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and a word in season, how good it is!

24The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25The Lord tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow’s boundaries.

26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

27Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes the bones.

31The ear that listens to life-giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,

but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

33The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

1A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,

keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

5A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,

but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

6The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

but the hearts of fools are not upright.

8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

9The Lord detests the way of the wicked,

but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;

the one who hates correction will die.

11Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—

how much more do human hearts!

12Mockers resent correction,

so they avoid the wise.

13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,

but heartache crushes the spirit.

14The discerning heart seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15All the days of the oppressed are wretched,

but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16Better a little with the fear of the Lord

than great wealth with turmoil.

17Better a small serving of vegetables with love

than a fattened calf with hatred.

18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,

but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

20A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,

but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—

and how good is a timely word!

24The path of life leads upward for the prudent

to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25The Lord tears down the house of the proud,

but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

26The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,

but gracious words are pure in his sight.

27The greedy bring ruin to their households,

but the one who hates bribes will live.

28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

29The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

31Whoever heeds life-giving correction

will be at home among the wise.

32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,

but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,

and humility comes before honor.