Proverbs 15
1 A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
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 adorns knowledge. But the mouth of the senseless gushes with foolishness.
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 In every place, the eyes of the Lord consider good and evil.
Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do].
4 A peaceful tongue is a tree of life. But that which is immoderate will crush 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 laughs at the discipline of his father. But whoever preserves rebukes will become astute. In abundant justice, there is very great virtue. But the intentions of the impious will be eradicated.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 The house of the just has very great strength. And in the fruits of the impious, there is disorder.
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 shall disseminate knowledge. The heart of the foolish will be dissimilar.
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 impious are abominable to the Lord. The vows of the just are appeasing.
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 way of the impious is an abomination to the Lord. Whoever pursues justice is loved by him.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 Doctrine is evil to those who abandon the way of life. Whoever hates correction shall die.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
11 Hell and perdition are in the sight of the Lord. How much more the hearts of the sons 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 He who corrupts himself does not love the one who afflicts him, nor will he step toward the wise.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 A rejoicing heart gladdens the face. But by the grief of the soul, the spirit is cast down.
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 The heart of the wise seeks doctrine. And the mouth of the foolish feeds on ignorance.
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 poor are evil. A secure mind is like 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 is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures and dissatisfaction.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 It is better to be called to vegetables with charity, than to a fatted calf 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 short-tempered man provokes conflicts. Whoever is patient tempers those who are stirred up.
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 slothful is like a hedge of thorns. The way of the just is without offense.
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 the father. But the 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 gladness to the foolish. And the prudent man sets his own steps in order.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Intentions dissipate where there is no counsel. Yet truly, they are confirmed where there are many counselors.
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 rejoices in the verdict of his own mouth. And a word at the right time is best.
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 path of life is for the wise above, so that he may turn away from the end of 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 will demolish the house of the arrogant. And He will make firm the borders of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 Evil intentions are an abomination to the Lord. And pure conversation, most beautiful, shall be confirmed by 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 Whoever pursues avarice disturbs his own house. But whoever hates bribes shall live. Through mercy and faith, sins are purged. But through the fear of the Lord, each one turns aside 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 mind of the just meditates on obedience. The mouth of the impious overflows with evils.
Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
29 The Lord is distant from the impious. And he will heed the prayers of the just.
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 rejoices the soul. A good reputation fattens 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 The ear that listens to the reproofs of life shall abide in the midst of the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 Whoever rejects discipline despises his own soul. But whoever agrees to correction is a possessor of the heart.
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 discipline of wisdom. And humility precedes glory.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
