Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away fury; but a mortifying word stirreth 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 maketh knowledge acceptable; but the mouth of fools sputtereth out 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 In every place are the eyes of the Lord, looking on the bad 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 healing [word] of the tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach to 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 contemneth the correction of his father; but he that observeth admonition will become prudent.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure; but in 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 scatter knowledge; but the heart of fools is not reliable.
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 of the Lord: but, the prayer of the upright [obtaineth] his favor.
Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people].
9 An abomination of the Lord is the way of the wicked; but him that pursueth righteousness will he love.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 An evil correction is [destined] for him that forsaketh the [right] path; he that hateth admonition will die.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
11 The nether world and corruption are open before the Lord: 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 that one should admonish him: unto the wise doth he not go.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 A merry heart cheereth up the countenance; but when the heart feeleth pain the spirit is depressed.
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 man of understanding seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of fools feedeth 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 afflicted are evil; but he that is of a cheerful 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 the Lord, than great treasure and confusion therewith.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better is an allowance of herbs when love is there, than a stall-fed 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 man of fury stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger assuageth contention.
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 like a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is a levelled [road].
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 causeth his father to rejoice; 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 void of sense; but a man of understanding walketh straight forward.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Plans are frustrated without consultation; but through a multitude of counsellors canst thou maintain thyself.
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] at the proper time, 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.
24 The path of life [leadeth] upward for the intelligent, in order that he may avoid the nether world beneath. (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 tear down the house of the proud; but he will set up firmly the boundary [-stone] of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 An abomination of the Lord are the thoughts of the bad man; but pleasant speeches are pure [before 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 that is greedy after gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts 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 reflecteth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked sputtereth out evil things.
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 the prayer of the righteous doth he hear.
Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
30 [What is pleasant to] the light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: a good report giveth marrow to 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 heareth the admonition of life will ever abide in the midst of the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He that rejecteth correction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth admonition acquireth intelligence.
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 correction for wisdom; and before honor there must come humility.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
