Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
3 The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
11 Sheol (Sheol h7585) and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 A scoffer does not love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol (Sheol h7585).
Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
25 The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
33 The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
