Proverbs 15-18
New American Standard Bible
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
15 A (A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The (C)tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the (D)mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
3 The (E)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A [b]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it [c]crushes the spirit.
5 A fool [d]rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
6 Great wealth is in the house of the (F)righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The (G)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But (H)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves the one who (I)pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
One who hates a rebuke will die.
11 [e](J)Sheol and [f]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the (K)hearts of [g]mankind!
12 A (L)scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
He will not go to the wise.
13 A (M)joyful heart makes a [h]cheerful face,
But [i]when the heart is (N)sad, the (O)spirit is broken.
14 The (P)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the [j]needy are bad,
But a [k]cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 (Q)Better is a little with [l]the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure, and turmoil with [m]the treasure.
17 (R)Better is a portion of [n]vegetables where there is love,
Than a (S)fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A (T)hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the (U)slow to anger (V)calms a dispute.
19 The way of the [o]lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A (W)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man (X)despises his mother.
21 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks [p]sense,
But a person of understanding (Y)walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [q]succeed.
23 A (Z)person has joy in an [r]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely (AA)word!
24 The (AB)path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from [s]Sheol below.
25 The Lord will (AC)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will (AD)set the boundary of the (AE)widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who (AF)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (AG)hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (AH)ponders how to answer,
But the (AI)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (AJ)far from the wicked,
But He (AK)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 [t]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [u]refreshes the bones.
31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
32 One who (AL)neglects discipline (AM)rejects himself,
But one who (AN)listens to a rebuke acquires [v]understanding.
33 [w]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
16 The (AO)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (AP)Lord examines the [x]motives.
3 [y](AQ)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord (AR)has made everything for [z]its own purpose,
Even the (AS)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[aa]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (AT)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [ab]the (AU)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He (AV)causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of a (AW)person plans his way,
But (AX)the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine (AY)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [ac]err in judgment.
11 A (AZ)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [ad]weights of the bag are His [ae]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (BA)throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [af](BB)spring rain.
16 How much (BC)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (BD)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [ag]life.
18 (BE)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (BF)humble in spirit with the needy
Than to (BG)divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will (BH)find good,
And (BI)blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The (BJ)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [ah]speech (BK)increases [ai]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (BL)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [aj]persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (BM)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (BN)healing to the bones.
25 (BO)There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [ak]hunger urges him on.
27 A (BP)worthless person digs up evil,
While [al]his words are like (BQ)scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [am]slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person of violence (BR)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A (BS)gray head is a crown of glory;
It (BT)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The (BU)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (BV)decision is from the Lord.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
17 (BW)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [an]feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The (BX)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (BY)the Lord tests hearts.
4 An (BZ)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [ao]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 One who mocks the (CA)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (CB)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 (CC)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (CD)glory of sons is their fathers.
7 [ap](CE)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (CF)lying lips to a prince.
8 A (CG)bribe is a [aq]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 One who (CH)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (CI)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (CJ)person meet a (CK)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who (CL)returns evil for good,
(CM)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (CN)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who (CO)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to (CP)buy wisdom,
When [ar]he has no sense?
17 A (CQ)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in [as]sense (CR)shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who (CS)loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who (CT)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [at]mind (CU)finds nothing good,
And one who is [au](CV)corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (CW)fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (CX)joyful heart [av]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (CY)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a (CZ)bribe [aw]from an inside pocket
To (DA)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (DB)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (DC)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And (DD)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to (DE)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who (DF)withholds his words [ax]has knowledge,
And one who has a (DG)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (DH)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He [ay](DI)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (DJ)in revealing his own [az]mind.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
4 The words of a person’s mouth are (DK)deep waters;
[ba]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To (DL)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (DM)suppress the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips [bb]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (DN)beatings.
7 A (DO)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [bc]innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is (DP)lax in his work
(DQ)Is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The (DR)name of the Lord is a (DS)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and (DT)is [bd]safe.
11 A (DU)rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (DV)Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But (DW)humility goes before honor.
13 One who (DX)gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The (DY)spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a (DZ)broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The [be](EA)mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the (EB)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s (EC)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
17 The first [bf]to plead his case seems right,
Until [bg]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (ED)lot puts an end to quarrels,
And [bh]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [bi](EE)fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(EF)He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 (EG)Death and life are in the [bj]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (EH)fruit.
22 He who finds a (EI)wife finds a good thing
And (EJ)obtains favor from the Lord.
23 A (EK)poor person utters pleadings,
But a (EL)rich person (EM)answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to [bk]ruin,
But there is (EN)a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:1 Lit painful
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit healing
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit is the crushing of the spirit
- Proverbs 15:5 Or despises
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e., The netherworld
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e., place of destruction
- Proverbs 15:11 Lit sons of mankind
- Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
- Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart
- Proverbs 15:15 Or wretched
- Proverbs 15:15 Lit good
- Proverbs 15:16 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 15:16 Lit it
- Proverbs 15:17 Or herbs
- Proverbs 15:19 Lit idle
- Proverbs 15:21 Lit heart
- Proverbs 15:22 Or are established
- Proverbs 15:23 Lit answer of his mouth
- Proverbs 15:24 I.e., the netherworld
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat
- Proverbs 15:32 Lit heart
- Proverbs 15:33 Or Reverence for
- Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
- Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll
- Proverbs 16:4 Or His
- Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
- Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
- Proverbs 16:11 Lit work
- Proverbs 16:15 Lit latter
- Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul
- Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
- Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:23 Or learning
- Proverbs 16:26 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
- Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip
- Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
- Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
- Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
- Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
- Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
- Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
- Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue
- Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
- Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
- Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows
- Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
- Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 Lit set on high
- Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor
- Proverbs 18:18 Lit makes a division
- Proverbs 18:20 I.e., speech
- Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand
- Proverbs 18:24 Lit be broken in pieces
Proverbs 15-18
New International Version
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(K)
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(N)
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.(T)
12 Mockers resent correction,(W)
so they avoid the wise.
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(Z)
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(AA)
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.(AB)
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.(AC)
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(AF)
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(AG)
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(AH)
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(AN)
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(AO)
26 The Lord detests the thoughts(AP) of the wicked,(AQ)
but gracious words are pure(AR) in his sight.
27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(AS)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(AV)
30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.(AW)
31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.(AX)
32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(AY)
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(AZ)
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(BC)
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(BG)
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(BL) evil is avoided.(BM)
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(BN) with them.(BO)
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(BR)
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(BS)
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(BT)
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(BU)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(BV)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(CC)
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[b](CG)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(CH)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(CJ)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(CU)
30 Whoever winks(CV) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(CW)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(DA)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(DD) shows contempt for their Maker;(DE)
whoever gloats over disaster(DF) will not go unpunished.(DG)
6 Children’s children(DH) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(DI)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(DJ)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(DK)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(DL)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(DM)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(DP)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(DS)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(DT)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(DU)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(DV)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(EA) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(EB)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(EC)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(ED)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(EE)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(EF)
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(EG)
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,(EH)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(EK)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(EN)
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(EO)
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(ER)
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.(ES)
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.(ET)
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?(EU)
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(EV)
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift(EW) opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes(EX)
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged(EY) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(EZ)
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(FE)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
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