Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath; But harsh words stir 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 pleasing; But the mouth of fools poureth forth 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 The eyes of the LORD are in every place; They behold the evil 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 mild tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a wound in 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 The fool despiseth the correction of his father; But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 In the house of the righteous is much wealth; But in the revenues of the wicked there 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 spread abroad knowledge; But the heart of the foolish is not sound.
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 to the LORD; But the prayer of the righteous is his delight.
Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people].
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But him who followeth after righteousness he loveth.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 Sore chastisement shall be to him that forsaketh the way; He that hateth reproof shall die.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
11 The underworld, yea, the region of death, is before the LORD; How much more the hearts of the sons 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 The scoffer loveth not his reprover; He will not resort to the wise.
Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
13 A joyous heart maketh a bright countenance; But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
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 The days of the afflicted are all evil; But he that hath 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 a little, with the fear of the LORD, Than much treasure, and trouble therewith.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where there is love, Than a fatted 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 The passionate man stirreth up strife; But he who is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
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 is as a hedge of thorns; But the way of the righteous is a highway.
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 maketh a glad father; 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 who lacketh wisdom; But the man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Without counsel, plans come to nought; But with a multitude of counsellors they are established.
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 in due season, how good it is!
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 is upward for the wise, So that he turneth away from the underworld 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 destroyeth the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 Evil devices are an abomination to the LORD; But pleasant words are pure.
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 who is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he who hateth bribes shall 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 meditateth on his answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth 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 he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, And good tidings make the bones fat.
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 hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall dwell among the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own life; But he that hearkeneth to rebuke getteth understanding.
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 guideth to wisdom, And before honor is humility.
If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
