Proverbs 15
English Standard Version
15 (A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
but (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but (C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 (D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 (E)A gentle[a] tongue is (F)a tree of life,
but (G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 (H)A fool (I)despises his father's instruction,
but (J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 (K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
(L)not so the hearts of fools.[b]
8 (M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but (N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 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
- Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
- Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
Proverbs 15
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.
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
Proverbi 15
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
15 Una risposta gentile calma la collera,
una parola pungente eccita l'ira.
2 La lingua dei saggi fa gustare la scienza,
la bocca degli stolti esprime sciocchezze.
3 In ogni luogo sono gli occhi del Signore,
scrutano i malvagi e i buoni.
4 Una lingua dolce è un albero di vita,
quella malevola è una ferita al cuore.
5 Lo stolto disprezza la correzione paterna;
chi tiene conto dell'ammonizione diventa prudente.
6 Nella casa del giusto c'è abbondanza di beni,
sulla rendita dell'empio incombe il dissesto.
7 Le labbra dei saggi diffondono la scienza,
non così il cuore degli stolti.
8 Il sacrificio degli empi è in abominio al Signore,
la supplica degli uomini retti gli è gradita.
9 La condotta perversa è in abominio al Signore;
egli ama chi pratica la giustizia.
10 Punizione severa per chi abbandona il retto sentiero,
chi odia la correzione morirà.
11 Gl'inferi e l'abisso sono davanti al Signore,
tanto più i cuori dei figli dell'uomo.
12 Lo spavaldo non vuol essere corretto,
egli non si accompagna con i saggi.
13 Un cuore lieto rende ilare il volto,
ma, quando il cuore è triste, lo spirito è depresso.
14 Una mente retta ricerca il sapere,
la bocca degli stolti si pasce di stoltezza.
15 Tutti i giorni son brutti per l'afflitto,
per un cuore felice è sempre festa.
16 Poco con il timore di Dio
è meglio di un gran tesoro con l'inquietudine.
17 Un piatto di verdura con l'amore
è meglio di un bue grasso con l'odio.
18 L'uomo collerico suscita litigi,
il lento all'ira seda le contese.
19 La via del pigro è come una siepe di spine,
la strada degli uomini retti è una strada appianata.
20 Il figlio saggio allieta il padre,
l'uomo stolto disprezza la madre.
21 La stoltezza è una gioia per chi è privo di senno;
l'uomo prudente cammina diritto.
22 Falliscono le decisioni prese senza consultazione,
riescono quelle prese da molti consiglieri.
23 E' una gioia per l'uomo saper dare una risposta;
quanto è gradita una parola detta a suo tempo!
24 Per l'uomo assennato la strada della vita è verso l'alto,
per salvarlo dagli inferni che sono in basso.
25 Il Signore abbatte la casa dei superbi
e rende saldi i confini della vedova.
26 Sono in abominio al Signore i pensieri malvagi,
ma gli sono gradite le parole benevole.
27 Sconvolge la sua casa chi è avido di guadagni disonesti;
ma chi detesta i regali vivrà.
28 La mente del giusto medita prima di rispondere,
la bocca degli empi esprime malvagità.
29 Il Signore è lontano dagli empi,
ma egli ascolta la preghiera dei giusti.
30 Uno sguardo luminoso allieta il cuore;
una notizia lieta rianima le ossa.
31 L'orecchio che ascolta un rimprovero salutare
avrà la dimora in mezzo ai saggi.
32 Chi rifiuta la correzione disprezza se stesso,
chi ascolta il rimprovero acquista senno.
33 Il timore di Dio è una scuola di sapienza,
prima della gloria c'è l'umiltà.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
