Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turns back fury, And a grievous word raises up anger.
A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good, And the mouth of fools utters folly.
The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth out folly.
3 The eyes of YHWH are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
5 A fool despises the instruction of his father, And whoever is regarding reproof is prudent.
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.
6 Abundant strength [is in] the house of the righteous, And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.
The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.
9 The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And He loves whoever is pursuing righteousness.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that followeth justice is beloved by him.
10 Discipline [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoever is hating reproof dies.
Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before YHWH, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men? (Sheol h7585)
12 A scorner does not love his reprover, He does not go to the wise.
A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes the face glad, And the spirit is struck by grief of heart.
A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content,
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.
18 A man of fury stirs up contention, And the slow to anger appeases strife.
A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up.
19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns; the way of the just is without offence.
20 A wise son makes a father glad. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
22 The making void of purposes [is] without counsel, And in a multitude of counselors it is established.
Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season—how good!
A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best.
The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell. (Sheol h7585)
25 YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, And He sets up the border of the widow.
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.
26 Thoughts of wickedness [are] an abomination to YHWH, And sayings of pleasantness [are] pure.
Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoever is hating gifts lives.
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.
28 The heart of the righteous meditates to answer, And the mouth of the wicked utters evil things.
The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked over floweth with evils.
29 YHWH [is] far from the wicked, And He hears the prayer of the righteous.
The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of the just.
30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, A good report makes the bone fat.
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the bones fat.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Lodges among the wise.
The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the midst of the wise.
32 Whoever is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoever is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he that yieldeth to reproof possesseth understanding.
33 The fear of YHWH [is] the instruction of wisdom, And humility [is] before honor!
The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.
