Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs 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 commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out 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 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on 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 gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes 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 A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings 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 knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright 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 Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children 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 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go 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 glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
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 one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys 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 little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
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 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases 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 sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright 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 makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises 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 one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors 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 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
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 leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. (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 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
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 for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will 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 weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears 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 rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
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 listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets 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 Yahweh teaches wisdom. 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.
