Proverbs 15
1 Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous 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 knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things.
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 behold both the evil and the good in every place.
Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do].
4 The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
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 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.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 In the houses of the righteous is much strength: but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
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 are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.
What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful.
8 The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.
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 ways of an ungodly [man] are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
11 Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men? (Sheol h7585)
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 An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, [the countenance] is sad.
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 An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant.
15 The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet.
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 is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear [of the Lord].
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.
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 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.
Those who quickly become angry cause arguments/quarreling, but those who do not quickly become angry cause people to act peacefully.
19 The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.
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 gladdens [his] father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
Children who are wise cause their parents to be happy; it is foolish children who despise their parents.
21 The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 They that honour not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counsellors.
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 bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common [weal].
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.
24 The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell. (Sheol h7585)
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 pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honour.
Yahweh detests what wicked [people] are thinking [about doing]; [but] when people say what is kind, he considers those words to be pure.
27 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.
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 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.
Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
29 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.
Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
If people have a smile on their faces, it makes them/others happy, and [when people hear] good news, it refreshes their spirits [MTY].
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that mind reproofs loves his soul.
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 instruction and wisdom; and the highest honour will correspond therewith.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
