Proverbs 15
International Standard Version
How to Live Wisely
15 A gentle response diverts anger,
but a harsh statement incites fury.
2 The wise speak, presenting[a] knowledge appropriately,
but fools spout foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
observing both the evil and the good.
4 A gentle statement[b] is a tree of life,
but perverted speech shatters the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s instructions,
but anyone who respects[c] reproof acts sensibly.
6 The righteous house is itself[d] a great treasure,
but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.
7 What the wise have to say disseminates[e] knowledge,
but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The lifestyle of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but he loves those who ardently pursue righteousness.
10 Severe punishment awaits anyone who wanders off the path—
anyone who despises reproof will die.
11 Since Sheol[f] and Abaddon[g] lie open in the Lord’s presence,
how much more the hearts of human beings!
12 The arrogant mocker never loves the one who corrects him;
he will not inquire of[h] the wise.
13 A happy heart enlightens the face,
but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit.
14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on stupidity.
15 The entire life[i] of the afflicted seems disastrous,
but a good heart feasts continuously.
On Contentment and Other Good Things of Life
16 Better is a little accompanied by fear of the Lord
than abundant wealth with turmoil.
17 A vegetarian meal[j] served with love is better
than a big, thick steak[k] with a plateful of[l] animosity.
18 The quickly angered man stirs up contention,
but anyone who controls his temper calms a dispute.
19 The lifestyle of the lazy is like a thorny hedge,
but the path taken by the upright is an open highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Stupidity is the delight of the senseless,
but an understanding man walks uprightly.
22 Plans fail without advice,
but with many counselors they are confirmed.
23 An appropriate answer brings joy to a person,
and a well-timed word is a good thing.
24 The way of life leads upward for the wise
so he may avoid Sheol[m] below.
25 The house of the proud the Lord will demolish,
but he will protect the widow’s boundary line.
26 To the Lord evil plans are detestable,
but pleasant words are pure.
27 Those who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble into their homes,
but the person who hates bribes will live.
28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,
but the wicked person spews out evil.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
31 Whoever listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
32 Whoever ignores instruction hates himself,
but anyone who heeds reproof gains understanding.[p]
33 The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom,
and humility precedes honor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:2 Lit. The tongues of the wise present
- Proverbs 15:4 Lit. tongue
- Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
- Proverbs 15:6 The Heb. lacks itself
- Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e. the realm of the dead
- Proverbs 15:11 I.e. the realm of destruction in the afterlife
- Proverbs 15:12 Lit. not go to
- Proverbs 15:15 Lit. All the days
- Proverbs 15:17 Lit. A meal of herbs
- Proverbs 15:17 Lit. a fattened ox
- Proverbs 15:17 The Heb. lacks a plateful of
- Proverbs 15:24 I.e. the realm of the dead
- Proverbs 15:30 Or A cheerful look
- Proverbs 15:30 Lit. bones
- Proverbs 15:32 Lit. 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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