Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turns back fury, And a grievous word raises up anger.
Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good, And the mouth of fools utters folly.
The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things.
3 The eyes of YHWH are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
5 A fool despises the instruction of his father, And whoever is regarding reproof is prudent.
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.
6 Abundant strength [is in] the house of the righteous, And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.
In the houses of the righteous is much strength: but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.
9 The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And He loves whoever is pursuing righteousness.
The ways of an ungodly [man] are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness.
10 Discipline [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoever is hating reproof dies.
The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before YHWH, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men? (Sheol h7585)
12 A scorner does not love his reprover, He does not go to the wise.
An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes the face glad, And the spirit is struck by grief of heart.
When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, [the countenance] is sad.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear [of the Lord].
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.
18 A man of fury stirs up contention, And the slow to anger appeases strife.
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.
19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.
20 A wise son makes a father glad. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son gladdens [his] father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
22 The making void of purposes [is] without counsel, And in a multitude of counselors it is established.
They that honour not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counsellors.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season—how good!
A bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common [weal].
The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell. (Sheol h7585)
25 YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, And He sets up the border of the widow.
The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.
26 Thoughts of wickedness [are] an abomination to YHWH, And sayings of pleasantness [are] pure.
An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honour.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoever is hating gifts lives.
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.
28 The heart of the righteous meditates to answer, And the mouth of the wicked utters evil things.
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.
29 YHWH [is] far from the wicked, And He hears the prayer of the righteous.
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.
30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, A good report makes the bone fat.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Lodges among the wise.
32 Whoever is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoever is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that mind reproofs loves his soul.
33 The fear of YHWH [is] the instruction of wisdom, And humility [is] before honor!
The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom; and the highest honour will correspond therewith.
