Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
3 In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.
A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
6 [In] the house of the righteous [is] abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked — trouble.
The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 An abomination to Jehovah [is] the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.
The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Chastisement [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.
Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD— how much more the hearts of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.
A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.
13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
18 A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
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 slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
22 Without counsel [is] the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season — how good!
A man takes joy in a fitting reply— and how good is a timely word!
The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
25 The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.
26 An abomination to Jehovah [are] thoughts of wickedness, And pure [are] sayings of pleasantness.
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
29 Far [is] Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.
The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
33 The fear of Jehovah [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honour [is] humility!
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
