Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir 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 useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out 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 The eyes of Yhwh are in every place, beholding 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 wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in 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 despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues 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 disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
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 an abomination to Yhwh: 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 way of the wicked is an abomination unto Yhwh: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof 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 destruction are before Yhwh: how much more then the hearts of the children 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 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
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 him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
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 afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath 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 little with the fear of Yhwh than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
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 wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
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 man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
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 maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth 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 him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
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 hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
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 Yhwh will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to Yhwh: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
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 that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall 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 studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
29 Yhwh is far from the wicked: but he heareth 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 rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
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 heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth 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 Yhwh is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
