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15 A gentle answer deflects anger,
    but harsh words make tempers flare.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
    but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

The Lord is watching everywhere,
    keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

Gentle words are a tree of life;
    a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

There is treasure in the house of the godly,
    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

The lips of the wise give good advice;
    the heart of a fool has none to give.

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
    but he loves those who pursue godliness.

10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined;
    whoever hates correction will die.

11 Even Death and Destruction[b] hold no secrets from the Lord.
    How much more does he know the human heart!

12 Mockers hate to be corrected,
    so they stay away from the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
    while the fool feeds on trash.

15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
    is better than steak with someone you hate.

18 A hot-tempered person starts fights;
    a cool-tempered person stops them.

19 A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers,
    but the path of the upright is an open highway.

20 Sensible children bring joy to their father;
    foolish children despise their mother.

21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense;
    a sensible person stays on the right path.

22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply;
    it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise;
    they leave the grave[c] behind.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but he protects the property of widows.

26 The Lord detests evil plans,
    but he delights in pure words.

27 Greed brings grief to the whole family,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
    the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
    good news makes for good health.

31 If you listen to constructive criticism,
    you will be at home among the wise.

32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
    humility precedes honor.

Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.
  2. 15:11 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon.
  3. 15:24 Hebrew Sheol.

15 A soft answer will turn away wrath,
    but a word of trouble will stir anger.[a]
The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
In every place, the eyes of Yahweh
    keep watch over the evil and the good.
Gentleness[b] of tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it[c] causes a break in spirit.
A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
    but the heart[d] of fools, not so.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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

  1. Proverbs 15:1 Literally “nostril”
  2. Proverbs 15:4 Or “Healing”
  3. Proverbs 15:4 That is, the tongue
  4. Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”
  5. Proverbs 15:11 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
  6. Proverbs 15:11 Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the ot in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.
  7. Proverbs 15:11 Literally “more for”
  8. Proverbs 15:12 Literally “rebuke belonging to him”
  9. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  10. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  11. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  12. Proverbs 15:14 Hebrew “he/it”
  13. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”
  14. Proverbs 15:16 Or “him”
  15. Proverbs 15:17 Hebrew “and”
  16. Proverbs 15:17 Or “him”
  17. Proverbs 15:18 Literally “nostrils”
  18. Proverbs 15:19 Hebrew “thorn”
  19. Proverbs 15:20 Literally “foolishness of humankind”
  20. Proverbs 15:21 Literally “heart”
  21. Proverbs 15:21 Literally “he will walk upright walking”
  22. Proverbs 15:25 Literally “boundary”
  23. Proverbs 15:28 Or “mind”
  24. Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
  25. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”
  26. Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  27. Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”