Proverbs 15
Young's Literal Translation
15 A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.
3 In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.
6 [In] the house of the righteous [is] abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked -- trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
9 An abomination to Jehovah [is] the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.
10 Chastisement [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.
12 A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.
13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
18 A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
20 A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
22 Without counsel [is] the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season -- how good!
24 A path of life [is] on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.
25 The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.
26 An abomination to Jehovah [are] thoughts of wickedness, And pure [are] sayings of pleasantness.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.
28 The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.
29 Far [is] Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.
32 Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
33 The fear of Jehovah [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honour [is] humility!
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
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
