Proverbs 15
1 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.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 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.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do].
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 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).
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
5 Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 There are many valuable things in the houses of righteous [people]; the wealth of wicked [people] causes them to have troubles/difficulties.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people].
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
11 Yahweh knows [what is happening in] the place where dead people [DOU] are, so he certainly knows [RHQ] what people are thinking. (Sheol h7585)
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 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.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 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.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 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].
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 Those who quickly become angry cause arguments/quarreling, but those who do not quickly become angry cause people to act peacefully.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 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].
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 Children who are wise cause their parents to be happy; it is foolish children who despise their parents.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 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.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 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.
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
24 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)
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 Yahweh detests what wicked [people] are thinking [about doing]; [but] when people say what is kind, he considers those words to be pure.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
27 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].
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 If people have a smile on their faces, it makes them/others happy, and [when people hear] good news, it refreshes their spirits [MTY].
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 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).
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
