15 温和的回答平息怒气,
    粗暴的言词激起愤怒。
智者的舌头传扬知识,
    愚人的嘴巴吐露愚昧。
耶和华的眼目无所不在,
    善人和恶人都被祂鉴察。
温和的言词带来生命,
    乖谬的话语伤透人心。
愚人蔑视父亲的管教,
    接受责备的才算明智。
义人家中财富充足,
    恶人得利惹来祸患。
智者的嘴传扬知识,
    愚人的心并非如此。
耶和华憎恨恶人的祭物,
    悦纳正直人的祈祷。
耶和华憎恨恶人的行径,
    喜爱追求公义的人。
10 背离正道,必遭严惩;
    厌恶责备,必致死亡。
11 阴间和冥府[a]在耶和华面前尚且无法隐藏,
    何况世人的心思呢!
12 嘲讽者不爱听责备,
    也不愿请教智者。
13 心中喜乐,容光焕发;
    心里悲伤,精神颓丧。
14 哲士渴慕知识,
    愚人安于愚昧。
15 困苦人天天受煎熬,
    乐观者常常有喜乐。
16 财物虽少但敬畏耶和华,
    胜过家财万贯却充满烦恼。
17 粗茶淡饭但彼此相爱,
    胜过美酒佳肴却互相憎恨。
18 脾气暴躁,惹起争端;
    忍耐克制,平息纠纷。
19 懒惰人的路布满荆棘,
    正直人的道平坦宽阔。
20 智慧之子使父亲欢喜,
    愚昧的人却藐视母亲。
21 无知者以愚昧为乐,
    明哲人遵循正道。
22 独断专行,计划失败;
    集思广益,事无不成。
23 应对得体,心中愉快;
    言语合宜,何等美好!
24 智者循生命之路上升,
    以免坠入阴间。
25 耶和华拆毁傲慢人的房屋,
    祂使寡妇的地界完整无损。
26 耶和华憎恨恶人的意念,
    喜爱纯洁的言语。
27 贪爱财富,自害己家;
    厌恶贿赂,安然存活。
28 义人三思而后答,
    恶人张口吐恶言。
29 耶和华远离恶人,
    却听义人的祷告。
30 笑颜令人心喜,
    喜讯滋润骨头。
31 倾听生命的训诫,
    使人与智者同列。
32 不受管教就是轻看自己,
    听从责备才能得到智慧。
33 敬畏耶和华使人得智慧,
    学会谦卑后才能得尊荣。

Footnotes

  1. 15:11 冥府”希伯来文是“亚巴顿”,参考启示录9:11

15 (A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but (C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
(D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
(E)A gentle[a] tongue is (F)a tree of life,
    but (G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
(H)A fool (I)despises his father's instruction,
    but (J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
(K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (L)not so the hearts of fools.[b]
(M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him (O)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (P)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    (Q)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more (R)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (S)A scoffer (T)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
13 (U)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by (V)sorrow of heart the spirit is (W)crushed.
14 (X)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but (Y)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (Z)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (AA)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than (AB)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 (AC)A hot-tempered man (AD)stirs up strife,
    but he who is (AE)slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of (AF)a sluggard is like a hedge of (AG)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is (AH)a level highway.
20 (AI)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (AJ)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding (AK)walks straight ahead.
22 (AL)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and (AM)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (AN)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (AO)the proud
    but (AP)maintains (AQ)the widow's boundaries.
26 (AR)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but (AS)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (AT)greedy for unjust gain (AU)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates (AV)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (AW)ponders how to answer,
    but (AX)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (AY)far from the wicked,
    but he (AZ)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (BA)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and (BB)good news refreshes[c] the bones.
31 (BC)The ear that listens to (BD)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (BE)ignores instruction (BF)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof (BG)gains intelligence.
33 (BH)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and (BI)humility comes before honor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
  2. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
  3. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat

15 A gentle answer(A) turns away wrath,(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(D)

The eyes(E) of the Lord are everywhere,(F)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(G)

The soothing tongue(H) is a tree of life,(I)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(J)

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(K)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(N)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice(O) of the wicked,(P)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(Q)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(R)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(S)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(T)

11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord(U)
    how much more do human hearts!(V)

12 Mockers resent correction,(W)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(X)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(Y)

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)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(AD)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(AE)

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.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(AI)
    but with many advisers(AJ) they succeed.(AK)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(AL)
    and how good is a timely word!(AM)

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)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(AT)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(AU)

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)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(BA)
    and humility comes before honor.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon