Proverbs 15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.(A)
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(B)
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.(C)
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(D)
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the minds of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(E)
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(F)
10 There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way;
one who hates a rebuke will die.(G)
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more human hearts!(H)
12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
they will not go to the wise.(I)
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.(J)
14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.(K)
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
than a fatted ox and hatred with it.(L)
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
but those who are slow to anger calm contention.(M)
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.(N)
20 A wise child makes a glad father,
but the foolish despise their mothers.(O)
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.(P)
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.(Q)
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
and a word in season, how good it is!(R)
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward,
in order to avoid Sheol below.(S)
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(T)
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.(U)
27 Those greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
but those who hate bribes will live.(V)
28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.(W)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(X)
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
will lodge among the wise.
32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
but those who heed admonition gain understanding.(Y)
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honor.(Z)
Proverbs 15
The Voice
15 A tender answer turns away rage,
but a prickly reply spikes anger.
2 The words of the wise extend knowledge,
but foolish people utter nonsense.
3 The Eternal can see all things;
His gaze is fixed on both the evil and the good.
4 A word of encouragement heals the one who receives it,
but a deceitful word breaks the spirit.
5 Fools refuse their parents’ guidance,
but sensible children accept correction.
6 Great treasure may be found where the right-living make their home,
but trouble awaits the wicked at every turn.
7 When the wise speak, knowledge spreads far and wide,
but fools care nothing about such matters.
8 When the wicked offer sacrifices, they disgust the Eternal,
but the prayers of those who do right are a pleasure to Him.
9 The lifestyle of the wicked is repulsive to Him,
while those who do right delight Him.
10 Harsh punishment is waiting for those who reject the path of life,
and those who hate correction will die.
11 The grave and destruction are fully exposed before the Eternal;
how much more does He know the thoughts of Adam’s children!
12 Those who mock others don’t like being corrected,
so they keep their distance from the wise.
13 A warm, smiling face reveals a joy-filled heart,
but heartache crushes the spirit and darkens the appearance.
14 Those who have understanding hearts hunger after knowledge,
but those with no understanding feast on foolishness.
15 The poor and oppressed suffer hardship day after day,
but those with kind hearts continually feast.
16 It is better to live with less and honor the Eternal
than to have riches and carry the burdens that come with them.
17 Better to eat only vegetables served lovingly
than a fattened ox served hatefully.
18 A hot-headed person stirs up trouble,
but one with patience settles a fight.
19 Lazy people walk a path overgrown with thornbushes,
but those with integrity travel a wide, level road.
20 A wise child makes his father happy,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolishness brings sheer joy to those who have no sense,
but people with insight steer a straight course through life.
22 Plans fall apart without proper advice;
but with the right guidance, they come together nicely.
23 There is great joy in having the right answer,
and how sweet is the right word at the right time!
24 For the wise the road of life climbs up steep grades
in order to avoid the slide down to the grave.
25 The Eternal splinters the house of the haughty,
but He secures the property of widows.
It is ironic that we may have more to fear from the proud and powerful than from the poor and needy. Those who have want more, and so they take it. Oh, maybe they won’t pick your pocket or break into your home. Their ways are more subtle and more effective. As James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “Isn’t it the rich who step on you while climbing the ladder of success? And isn’t it the rich who take advantage of you and drag you into court?” (James 2:6b). James isn’t describing all the rich, of course, but many have made their fortunes off the backs of others. God is the One who can protect the poor, the One who can reduce the grand houses of the haughty to splinters.
26 The thoughts of the wrongdoers repulse the Eternal,
but kind words are pure pleasure for Him.
27 Those who take illegal gains injure their families,
but those who refuse a bribe will live in peace.
28 The right-living think before they speak,
but wrongdoers simply spew evil.
29 The Eternal stays far from the wrongdoers,
but He listens to the prayer of the right-living.
30 Bright eyes and a cheerful expression bring joy to the heart,
and good news revives the spirit and renews health.
31 Those who learn from the lessons of life
will join the others who are wise.
32 Those who disregard discipline sabotage themselves,
but those who are open to correction gain understanding.
33 Reverence for the Eternal is the first lesson of wisdom,
and humility always precedes honor.
Proverbios 15
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
15 La suave respuesta aparta el furor(A),
Pero la palabra hiriente hace subir la ira(B).
2 La lengua del sabio hace grato[a] el conocimiento(C),
Pero la boca de los necios habla[b] necedades(D).
3 En todo lugar están los ojos del Señor(E),
Observando a los malos y a los buenos.
4 La lengua apacible[c] es árbol de vida,
Pero la perversidad en ella quebranta el[d] espíritu.
5 El necio rechaza[e] la disciplina[f] de su padre,
Pero es prudente el que acepta la reprensión.
6 En la casa del justo hay mucha riqueza(F),
Pero en las ganancias del impío hay turbación.
7 Los labios de los sabios esparcen conocimiento,
Pero no así el corazón de los necios.
8 El sacrificio de los impíos es abominación al Señor(G),
Pero la oración de los rectos es Su deleite(H).
9 Abominación al Señor es el camino del impío,
Pero Él ama al que sigue la justicia(I).
10 La disciplina severa es para el que abandona el camino;
El que aborrece la reprensión morirá.
11 El Seol[g] y el Abadón[h] están delante del Señor(J),
¡Cuánto más los corazones de los hombres[i](K)!
12 El insolente no ama al que lo reprende(L),
Ni se allegará a los sabios.
13 El corazón gozoso(M) alegra el[j] rostro,
Pero en la tristeza del corazón(N) se quebranta el espíritu(O).
14 El corazón inteligente busca conocimiento(P),
Pero la boca de los necios se alimenta de necedades.
15 Todos los días del afligido son malos,
Pero el de corazón alegre[k] tiene un banquete continuo.
16 Mejor es poco con temor[l] del Señor,
Que gran tesoro con turbación(Q).
17 Mejor es un plato[m] de legumbres[n] donde hay amor(R),
Que buey engordado(S) con odio.
18 El hombre irascible provoca riñas(T),
Pero el lento para la ira(U) apacigua pleitos(V).
19 El camino del perezoso es como un seto de espinos,
Pero la senda de los rectos es una calzada.
20 El hijo sabio alegra al padre(W),
Pero el hombre necio desprecia a su madre(X).
21 La necedad es alegría para el insensato[o],
Pero el hombre inteligente anda rectamente(Y).
22 Sin consulta, los planes se frustran,
Pero con muchos consejeros, triunfan[p].
23 El hombre se alegra con la respuesta adecuada[q](Z),
Y una palabra a tiempo, ¡cuán agradable es(AA)!
24 La senda de la vida para el sabio(AB) es hacia arriba
Para que se aparte del Seol[r] que está abajo.
25 El Señor derribará la casa de los soberbios(AC),
Pero afianzará los linderos(AD) de la viuda(AE).
26 Abominación al Señor son los planes perversos,
Pero son puras las palabras agradables.
27 Perturba su casa el que tiene ganancias ilícitas(AF),
Pero el que aborrece el soborno(AG), vivirá.
28 El corazón del justo medita cómo responder(AH),
Pero la boca de los impíos habla[s] lo malo(AI).
29 El Señor está lejos de los impíos(AJ),
Pero escucha la oración de los justos(AK).
30 La luz de los ojos alegra el corazón,
Y las buenas noticias fortalecen[t] los huesos.
31 Aquel cuyo oído escucha las reprensiones de la vida
Morará entre los sabios.
32 El que tiene en poco la disciplina[u](AL) se desprecia a sí mismo(AM),
Pero el que escucha las reprensiones adquiere entendimiento[v](AN).
33 El temor[w] del Señor es instrucción de sabiduría,
Y antes de la gloria está la humildad.
Footnotes
- Proverbios 15:2 Lit. bueno.
- Proverbios 15:2 Lit. emite.
- Proverbios 15:4 Lit. que sana.
- Proverbios 15:4 Lit. es el quebrantamiento del.
- Proverbios 15:5 O desprecia.
- Proverbios 15:5 O instrucción.
- Proverbios 15:11 I.e. región de los muertos.
- Proverbios 15:11 I.e. lugar de destrucción.
- Proverbios 15:11 Lit. los hijos de Adán.
- Proverbios 15:13 Lit. hace un buen.
- Proverbios 15:15 Lit. bueno.
- Proverbios 15:16 O la reverencia.
- Proverbios 15:17 O una porción.
- Proverbios 15:17 O verduras.
- Proverbios 15:21 Lit. falto de corazón.
- Proverbios 15:22 O se afianzan.
- Proverbios 15:23 Lit. de su boca.
- Proverbios 15:24 I.e. región de los muertos.
- Proverbios 15:28 Lit. emite.
- Proverbios 15:30 Lit. ponen grasa en.
- Proverbios 15:32 O instrucción.
- Proverbios 15:32 Lit. corazón.
- Proverbios 15:33 O La reverencia.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
