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
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.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)