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

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.(C)

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.(D)

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,(E)
but a devious tongue[a] breaks the spirit.

A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.(F)

The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,(G)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(H)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(I)

10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord(J)
how much more, human hearts.(K)

12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;(L)
he will not consult the wise.

13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(M)

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(N)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(O)

15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(P)

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox(Q) with hatred.(R)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(S)
but one slow to anger(T) calms strife.

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(U)

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.(V)

21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,
but a person with understanding walks a straight path.(W)

22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.(X)

23 A person takes joy in giving an answer;[b]
and a timely word—how good that is!(Y)

24 For the prudent the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

25 The Lord tears apart the house of the proud,
but he protects the widow’s territory.(Z)

26 The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil,
but pleasant words are pure.(AA)

27 The one who profits dishonestly(AB) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(AC)

28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,(AD)
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.(AE)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,(AF)
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(AG)

30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[c] the bones.(AH)

31 One who[d] listens to life-giving rebukes(AI)
will be at home among the wise.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,(AJ)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.[e](AK)

33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. 15:4 Lit but crookedness in it
  2. 15:23 Lit in an answer of his mouth
  3. 15:30 Lit makes fat
  4. 15:31 Lit An ear that
  5. 15:32 Lit acquires a heart

15 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a sharp word causes anger.

The tongue of the wise uses much learning in a good way, but the mouth of fools speaks in a foolish way.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the bad and the good.

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.

A fool turns away from the strong teaching of his father, but he who remembers the strong words spoken to him is wise.

Great riches are in the house of those who are right with God, but trouble is what the sinful will receive.

The lips of the wise spread much learning, but the minds of fools do not.

The Lord hates the gifts of the sinful, but the prayer of the faithful is His joy.

The Lord hates the way of the sinful, but He loves him who follows what is right and good.

10 He who turns from the right way will be punished. He who hates strong words spoken to him will die.

11 The world of the dead lies open before the Lord. How much more the hearts of men!

12 A man who laughs at the truth has no love for the one who speaks strong words to him. He will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a happy face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

14 The mind of him who has understanding looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.

15 All the days of the suffering are hard, but a glad heart has a special supper all the time.

16 A little with the fear of the Lord is better than great riches with trouble.

17 A dish of vegetables with love is better than eating the best meat with hate.

18 A man with a bad temper starts fights, but he who is slow to anger quiets fighting.

19 The path of the lazy man is grown over with thorns, but the path of the faithful is a good road.

20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man hates his mother.

21 A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks straight.

22 Plans go wrong without talking together, but they will go well when many wise men talk about what to do.

23 To give a good answer is a joy to a man, and how pleasing is a word given at the right time!

24 The path of life leads up for the wise, so he may keep away from hell below.

25 The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will make a place for the woman whose husband has died.

26 The Lord hates the plans of the sinful, but the words of the pure are pleasing to Him.

27 He who gets things by doing wrong brings trouble to his family, but he who will not be paid in secret for wrong-doing will live.

28 The mind of the one who is right with God thinks about how to answer, but the mouth of the sinful pours out sinful things.

29 The Lord is far from the sinful, but He hears the prayer of those who are right with Him.

30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad. Good news puts fat on the bones.

31 He whose ear listens to careful words spoken will live among the wise.

32 He who does not listen to strong teaching hates himself, but he who listens when strong words are spoken gets understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the teaching for wisdom, and having no pride comes before honor.

15 A sensitive answer turns back wrath,
    but an offensive word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool gushes with stupidity.
The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on evil and good people.
Wholesome speech is a tree of life,
    but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.
A fool doesn’t like a father’s instruction,
    but those who heed correction are mature.
Great treasure is in the house of the righteous,
    but the gain of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools have none.
The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
    but favors the prayers of those who do right.
The Lord detests the path of the wicked,
    but loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Discipline is severe for those who abandon the way;
    those who hate correction will die.
11 The grave[a] and the underworld[b] lie open before the Lord;
    how much more the hearts of human beings!
12 Mockers don’t like those who correct them.
    They won’t go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart brightens one’s face,
    but a troubled heart breaks the spirit.
14 An understanding heart seeks knowledge;
    but fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the needy are hard,
    but a happy heart has a continual feast.
16 Better a little with fear of the Lord
    than a great treasure with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of greens with love
    than a plump calf with hate.
18 Hotheads stir up conflict,
    but patient people calm down strife.
19 The path of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,
    but the way of those who do right is a clear road.
20 A wise child brings joy to a father,
    but fools despise their mothers.
21 Folly is joy to those who lack sense,
    but those with understanding walk straight ahead.
22 Plans fail with no counsel,
    but with many counselors they succeed.
23 To give an appropriate answer is a joy;
    how good is a word at the right time!
24 For those with insight, life is an upward path,
    avoiding the grave [c] below.
25 The Lord snatches away the arrogant one’s house,
    but he preserves the widow’s boundaries.
26 The Lord detests evil plans,
    but gracious words are pure.
27 Those who acquire things unjustly gain trouble for their house,
    but those who hate bribes will live.
28 The righteous heart reflects before answering,
    but the wicked mouth blurts out evil.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he listens to the prayers of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes give joy to the heart;
    good news strengthens the bones.
31 The ear that listens to life-giving correction
    dwells among the wise.
32 Those who refuse discipline despise themselves,
    but those who listen to correction gain understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is wise instruction,
    and humility comes before respect.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:11 Heb Sheol
  2. Proverbs 15:11 Heb Abaddon
  3. Proverbs 15:24 Heb Sheol