Proverbs 15
Expanded Bible
15 A ·gentle [soft; tender] answer ·will calm a person’s anger [L turns back/T away wrath],
but an ·unkind [painful; sharp] answer ·will cause more [raises] anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak,
but fools ·pour out [bubble forth with] foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes ·see everything [L are everywhere];
he watches both evil and good people.
4 ·As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life [L A healthy/healing tongue is a tree of life],
but ·dishonest [deceitful; perverse] words crush the spirit.
5 Fools ·reject [disdain] their ·parents’ [father’s] ·correction [discipline],
but anyone who ·accepts [guards] correction is wise.
6 Much ·wealth [treasure] is in the houses of ·good [righteous] people,
but evil people get nothing but trouble.
7 Wise people use their ·words [L lips] to ·spread [scatter; disperse] knowledge,
but there is no knowledge in the ·thoughts [hearts; minds] of fools.
8 The Lord ·hates [detests] the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
but he ·likes [favors] the prayers of ·honest people [people with integrity].
9 The Lord ·hates [detests] ·what evil people do [L the path of the wicked],
but he ·loves [favors] those who ·do what is right [pursue righteousness].
10 The person who ·quits doing what is right [L abandons the way] will be punished,
and the one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 ·The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead [L Sheol and Abaddon/Destruction are before the Lord],
so he surely knows the ·thoughts of the living [L human heart].
12 ·Those who make fun of wisdom [L Mockers] don’t like to be corrected;
they will not ·ask the wise for advice [L go to the wise].
13 ·Happiness makes a person smile [L A joyful heart brightens one’s face],
but ·sadness [L a troubled heart] can break a person’s spirit.
14 ·People with understanding want more [L Understanding hearts seek] knowledge,
but fools ·just want more [L feed on] foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for ·those who suffer [or the poor],
but a happy heart is like a continual feast.
16 It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·respect [fear] the Lord
than to ·be wealthy [have great treasure] and ·have much trouble [turmoil].
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than ·to eat meat [L an ox of the stall] with those who hate you.
18 People with quick tempers cause ·trouble [conflict],
but ·those who control their tempers [patient people] stop ·a quarrel [accusations].
19 A lazy person’s ·life [L path] is like a patch of thorns,
but an ·honest [virtuous] person’s ·life [path] is like a smooth highway.
20 Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy,
but foolish ·children [L people] disrespect their mother.
21 A person without ·wisdom [sense/heart] enjoys being foolish,
but someone with understanding ·does what is right [walks straight ahead].
22 Plans fail without good advice,
but they succeed with the advice of many others.
23 People enjoy giving ·good advice [L a right reply].
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.
24 ·Wise [Insightful] people’s ·lives [L way] ·get better and better [move upward].
They ·avoid whatever would cause their death [L turn aside from Sheol/the grave below].
25 The Lord will ·tear down [uproot] the proud person’s house,
but he will ·protect [establish] the widow’s ·property [boundaries].
26 The Lord ·hates [detests] evil ·thoughts [or plans]
but ·is pleased with kind words [L pleasing words are pure].
27 ·Greedy people [L Those who get unjust gain] bring trouble to their ·families [L house],
but the person who ·can’t be paid to do wrong [L hates gifts/bribes] will live.
28 ·Good people [L The heart/mind of the righteous] ·think [reflect; meditate] before they answer,
but the wicked simply ·pour [blurt] out evil.
29 The Lord ·does not listen to [L is far from] the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of ·those who do right [the righteous].
30 Good news ·makes you feel better [L refreshes the bone].
·Your happiness will show in your eyes [L The light of the eyes give joy to the heart].
31 ·If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you [L The ear that listens to correction] will ·live [lodge] among the wise.
32 Those who ·refuse [neglect] ·correction [discipline] hate themselves,
but those who ·accept [listen to] correction ·gain understanding [L acquire heart/mind].
33 ·Respect [Fear] for the Lord ·will teach you wisdom [is wise instruction/discipline].
·If you want to be honored, you must be humble [L Humility comes before glory].
Proverbs 15
Common English Bible
15 A sensitive answer turns back wrath,
but an offensive word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool gushes with stupidity.
3 The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
keeping watch on evil and good people.
4 Wholesome speech is a tree of life,
but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.
5 A fool doesn’t like a father’s instruction,
but those who heed correction are mature.
6 Great treasure is in the house of the righteous,
but the gain of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools have none.
8 The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
but favors the prayers of those who do right.
9 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
- Proverbs 15:11 Heb Sheol
- Proverbs 15:11 Heb Abaddon
- Proverbs 15:24 Heb Sheol
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible