Proverbs 15
American Standard Version
15 A soft answer turneth away wrath;
But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright;
But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place,
Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
4 [a]A gentle tongue is a tree of life;
But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth his father’s [b]correction;
But he that regardeth reproof [c]getteth prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure;
But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge;
But the heart of the foolish [d]doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah;
But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah;
But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way;
And he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and [e]Abaddon are before Jehovah;
How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer loveth not to be reproved;
He will not go unto the wise.
13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance;
But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge;
But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil;
But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah,
Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better is a [f]dinner of herbs, where love is,
Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention;
But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns;
But the path of the upright is made a highway.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father;
But a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is void of [g]wisdom;
But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed;
But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
23 A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth;
And a word in due season, how good is it!
24 To the wise the way of life goeth upward,
That he may depart from Sheol beneath.
25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud;
But he will establish the border of the widow.
26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah;
But [h]pleasant words are pure.
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;
But he that hateth bribes shall live.
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer;
But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
29 Jehovah is far from the wicked;
But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart;
And good tidings make the bones fat.
31 The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life
Shall abide among the wise.
32 He that refuseth [i]correction despiseth his own soul;
But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth [j]understanding.
33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom;
And before honor goeth humility.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:4 Hebrew The healing of the tongue.
- Proverbs 15:5 Or, instruction
- Proverbs 15:5 Or, dealeth prudently
- Proverbs 15:7 Or, is not stedfast (or, right)
- Proverbs 15:11 Or, Destruction
- Proverbs 15:17 Or, portion
- Proverbs 15:21 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 15:26 Or, the pure speak pleasant words
- Proverbs 15:32 Or, instruction
- Proverbs 15:32 Hebrew heart.
Proverbs 15
Lexham English Bible
15 A soft answer will turn away wrath,
but a word of trouble will stir anger.[a]
2 The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
3 In every place, the eyes of Yahweh
keep watch over the evil and the good.
4 Gentleness[b] of tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it[c] causes a break in spirit.
5 A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
but he who guards reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
but the heart[d] of fools, not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked,
but he who pursues righteousness he will love.
10 Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way;
he who hates a rebuke will die.
11 Sheol[e] and Abaddon[f] are before Yahweh,
how much more[g] the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer does not like his rebuke;[h]
to the wise he will not go.
13 A heart[i] of gladness will make good countenance,[j]
but in sorrow of heart[k] a spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge,
but the faces of fools, they[l] will feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
but goodness of heart[m] is a continuous feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of Yahweh
than great treasure and trouble with it.[n]
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables when[o] love is there
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.[p]
18 A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife,
but he who is slow to anger,[q] he will calm contention.
19 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,[r]
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
but a foolish person,[s] he despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,[t]
and a person of understanding will walk upright.[u]
22 Plans go wrong when there is no counsel,
but with many advisors it will succeed.
23 Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth,
and a word in its time, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for him who has insight,
in order to turn away from Sheol below.
25 The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down,
but he will maintain the property line[v] of the widow.
26 Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh,
but gracious words are pure.
27 He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28 A heart[w] of righteousness will ponder the answer,
but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked,
but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
30 From the light of the eyes, the heart[x] will rejoice,
and good news will enliven the bones.[y]
31 The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life,
in the midst of the wise it will lodge.
32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[z]
but he who hears admonition gains heart.[aa]
33 Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise,
and before honor comes humility.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:1 Literally “nostril”
- Proverbs 15:4 Or “Healing”
- Proverbs 15:4 That is, the tongue
- Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:11 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
- Proverbs 15:11 Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the ot in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.
- Proverbs 15:11 Literally “more for”
- Proverbs 15:12 Literally “rebuke belonging to him”
- Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
- Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:14 Hebrew “he/it”
- Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:16 Or “him”
- Proverbs 15:17 Hebrew “and”
- Proverbs 15:17 Or “him”
- Proverbs 15:18 Literally “nostrils”
- Proverbs 15:19 Hebrew “thorn”
- Proverbs 15:20 Literally “foolishness of humankind”
- Proverbs 15:21 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 15:21 Literally “he will walk upright walking”
- Proverbs 15:25 Literally “boundary”
- Proverbs 15:28 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”
- Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”
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