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 the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
3 The eyes of YHWH are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises the instruction of his father, And whoever is regarding reproof is prudent.
A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 Abundant strength [is in] the house of the righteous, And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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 Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 Discipline [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoever is hating reproof dies.
There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before YHWH, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then 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 scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; 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 glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual 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 trouble.
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A man of fury stirs up contention, And the slow to anger appeases strife.
A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
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 sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 The making void of purposes [is] without counsel, And in a multitude of counselors it is established.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season—how good!
Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
25 YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, And He sets up the border of the widow.
Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
26 Thoughts of wickedness [are] an abomination to YHWH, And sayings of pleasantness [are] pure.
Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoever is hating gifts lives.
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he 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 weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 YHWH [is] far from the wicked, And He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, A good report makes the bone fat.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Lodges among the wise.
The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
32 Whoever is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoever is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of YHWH [is] the instruction of wisdom, And humility [is] before honor!
The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
