Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
When people are angry with you, reply to them gently, and it will calm them; but if you reply harshly to them, it causes them to become more angry.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
When wise [people] speak [MTY], it causes those who hear what they say to want to know more; foolish people continually say [MTY] what is foolish.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do].
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Those who speak [MTY] kindly to people are [like] [MET] trees [whose fruit gives] life; speaking what is false causes people to (despair/feel very discouraged).
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
There are many valuable things in the houses of righteous [people]; the wealth of wicked [people] causes them to have troubles/difficulties.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people].
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
Yahweh knows [what is happening in] the place where dead people [DOU] are, so he certainly knows [RHQ] what people are thinking. (Sheol h7585)
12 A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
When people are happy, they have smiles on their faces; but when they are sad, [by looking at their faces we can see that] they are sad.
14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant.
15 All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Those who are oppressed constantly have difficulties, but those who (OR, if they) are happy, [it is as though] [MET] they are having a big feast every day.
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
Eating meals with [people whom you] love and having only vegetables to eat is better than eating with [people who] hate [each other and] having lots of good meat [to eat].
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
Those who quickly become angry cause arguments/quarreling, but those who do not quickly become angry cause people to act peacefully.
19 The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Lazy people constantly [have difficulties] [MET]; [it is as though they are] walking through thorns; but those who are honest and hard-working [will have few difficulties; it is as though they are walking] on a level highway [MET].
20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Children who are wise cause their parents to be happy; it is foolish children who despise their parents.
21 Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
If there is no one to give us good advice, we will not accomplish what we are planning to do; but when we have many [good] advisors, we will succeed.
23 A man takes joy in a fitting reply— and how good is a timely word!
People rejoice when they are able to reply well to what others have asked them; [truly], it is very delightful to be able to say the right thing at the right time.
Wise people walk on a road that leads up to a long life; they do not walk on a road that leads down to the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
Yahweh detests what wicked [people] are thinking [about doing]; [but] when people say what is kind, he considers those words to be pure.
27 He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Those who try hard to get money by acting dishonestly cause trouble for their family; those who refuse to accept bribes will live [for a long time].
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
30 The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
If people have a smile on their faces, it makes them/others happy, and [when people hear] good news, it refreshes their spirits [MTY].
31 He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
If people refuse to listen [when others try] to correct them, they are despising/hurting themselves; those who (pay attention/heed) when [others] warn them (become wiser/acquire good sense).
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
