Proverbs 15
1 A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.
By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth 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 eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted out.
A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of the wicked is 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 shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.
The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.
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: he that followeth justice is beloved by him.
The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth 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 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men? (Sheol h7585)
Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go to the wise.
The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.
A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
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 poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast.
All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content,
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.
Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up.
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 slothful is as a hedge of thorns; the way of the just is without offence.
Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, 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 A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best.
A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.
The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.
Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.
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 mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked over floweth with evils.
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: and he will hear the prayers of the just.
The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the bones fat.
The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the midst of the wise.
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he that yieldeth to reproof possesseth 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 is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
