Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turns back fury, And a grievous word raises up anger.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good, And the mouth of fools utters folly.
The tongue of wise people compliments knowledge, but the mouth of fools pours out folly.
3 The eyes of YHWH are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere, keeping watch over the evil and the good.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises the instruction of his father, And whoever is regarding reproof is prudent.
A fool has contempt for his father's instruction, but he who learns from correction is prudent.
6 Abundant strength [is in] the house of the righteous, And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.
In the house of the righteous person there is great treasure, but the earnings of the wicked person give him trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of wise people scatter knowledge about, but not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
Yahweh hates the sacrifices of wicked people, but the prayer of upright people is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And He loves whoever is pursuing righteousness.
Yahweh hates the way of wicked people, but he loves the one who pursues what is right.
10 Discipline [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoever is hating reproof dies.
Harsh discipline awaits anyone who forsakes the way and he who hates correction will die.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before YHWH, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and destruction are open before Yahweh; how much more the hearts of the sons of mankind? (Sheol h7585)
12 A scorner does not love his reprover, He does not go to the wise.
The mocker resents correction; he will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes the face glad, And the spirit is struck by grief of heart.
A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
The heart of the discerning seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
All the days of oppressed people are miserable, but a cheerful heart has an unending feast.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure with confusion.
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
Better is a meal with vegetables where there is love than a fatted calf served with hatred.
18 A man of fury stirs up contention, And the slow to anger appeases strife.
An angry man stirs up arguments, but a person who is slow to anger quiets a quarrel.
19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
The path of the sluggard is like a place with a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a built-up highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
Folly delights a person who lacks sense, but the one who has understanding walks a straight path.
22 The making void of purposes [is] without counsel, And in a multitude of counselors it is established.
Plans go wrong where there is no advice, but with numerous advisors they succeed.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season—how good!
A person finds joy when he gives a pertinent reply; how good is a timely word!
The path of life leads upward for prudent people, that they may turn away from Sheol beneath. (Sheol h7585)
25 YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, And He sets up the border of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of the widow.
26 Thoughts of wickedness [are] an abomination to YHWH, And sayings of pleasantness [are] pure.
Yahweh hates the thoughts of wicked people, but the words of kindness are pure.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoever is hating gifts lives.
The robber brings trouble to his family, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous meditates to answer, And the mouth of the wicked utters evil things.
The heart of the righteous person ponders before it answers, but the mouth of wicked people pours out all its evil.
29 YHWH [is] far from the wicked, And He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Yahweh is far away from wicked people, but he hears the prayer of righteous people.
30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, A good report makes the bone fat.
The light of the eyes brings joy to the heart and good news is health to the body.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Lodges among the wise.
If you pay attention when someone corrects how you live, you will remain among wise people.
32 Whoever is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoever is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
The one who rejects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to correction gains understanding.
33 The fear of YHWH [is] the instruction of wisdom, And humility [is] before honor!
The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom and humility comes before honor.
