Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a grievous word stirs up anger.
Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out folly.
The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things.
3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a breaking of the spirit.
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who regards reproof gets prudence.
A fool scorns his father's instruction; but he that keeps his commandments is more prudent. In abounding righteousness is great strength: but the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.
6 In the house of a righteous man is much treasure, but in the revenues of a wicked man is trouble.
In the houses of the righteous is much strength: but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the foolish, not so.
The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.
9 The way of a wicked man is an abomination to Jehovah, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
The ways of an ungodly [man] are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness.
10 There is grievous correction for him who forsakes the way. He who hates reproof shall die.
The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah. How much more then the hearts of the sons of men! (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men? (Sheol h7585)
12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved. He will not go to the wise.
An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, [the countenance] is sad.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet.
16 Better is little with the fear of Jehovah, than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear [of the Lord].
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.
A passionate man stirs up strife; but [he that is] slow to anger appeases even a rising one. A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels; but an ungodly man rather stirs [them] up.
19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is made a highway.
The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.
20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
A wise son gladdens [his] father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding makes his going straight.
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
They that honor not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counselors.
23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth, and a word in due season, how good it is!
A bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common [weal].
The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell. (Sheol h7585)
25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud, but he will establish the border of the widow.
The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.
26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah, but pleasant words are pure.
An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honor.
27 He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes shall live.
A receiver of bribes destroys himself; but he that hates the receiving of bribes is safe. [By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away; ] but by the fear of the Lord every one departs from evil.
28 The heart of a righteous man meditates to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness; but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things. The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord; and through them even enemies become friends.
29 Jehovah is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
God is far from the ungodly; but he hearkens to the prayers of the righteous. Better are small receipts with righteousness, than abundant fruits with unrighteousness. Let the heart of a man think justly, that his steps may be rightly ordered of God. The eye that sees rightly rejoices the heart; and a good report fattens the bones.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news make the bones fat.
31 The ear that hearkens to the reproof of life shall abide among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who hearkens to reproof gets understanding.
He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that mind reproofs loves his soul.
33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.
The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom; and the highest honor will correspond therewith.
