Proverbs 15
Modern English Version
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright,
but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but he who regards reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
but the heart of the foolish does not do so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord,
but He loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way,
and he who hates reproof will die.
11 Death and destruction are before the Lord;
so how much more the hearts of the children of men.
12 A scorner does not love one who reproves him,
nor will he go to the wise.
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fatted calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns,
but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom,
but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22 Without counsel, purposes are disappointed,
but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24 The way of life leads above for the wise,
that he may depart from Sheol below.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
but He will establish the border of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27 He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and a good report makes the bones healthy.
31 The ear that hears the reproof of life
abides among the wise.
32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul,
but he who hears reproof gains understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
and before honor is humility.
Proverbs 15
The Message
God Doesn’t Miss a Thing
15 A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
3 God doesn’t miss a thing—
he’s alert to good and evil alike.
4 Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim.
5 Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;
welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
7 Perceptive words spread knowledge;
fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
8 God can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
9 A life frittered away disgusts God;
he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
10 It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,
a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.
11 Even hell holds no secrets from God—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?
Life Ascends to the Heights
12 Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.
13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17 Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
18 Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
20 Intelligent children make their parents proud;
lazy students embarrass their parents.
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
he stands with those who have no standing.
26 God can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
28 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
the wicked are sewers of abuse.
29 God keeps his distance from the wicked;
he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
an honored guest among wise men and women.
32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson