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15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.(A)
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(B)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.(C)
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(D)
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(E)
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(F)
10 There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way;
    one who hates a rebuke will die.(G)
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more human hearts!(H)
12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
    they will not go to the wise.(I)
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.(J)
14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.(K)
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
    than a fatted ox and hatred with it.(L)
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
    but those who are slow to anger calm contention.(M)
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.(N)
20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(O)
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
    but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.(P)
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.(Q)
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
    and a word in season, how good it is!(R)
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward,
    in order to avoid Sheol below.(S)
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(T)
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.(U)
27 Those greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
    but those who hate bribes will live.(V)
28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.(W)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(X)
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
    will lodge among the wise.
32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
    but those who heed admonition gain understanding.(Y)
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility goes before honor.(Z)

More Wise Ways to Live

15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
but the mouths of fools spout stupidity.
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
    watching evil people as well as the good.
A healing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue shatters the spirit.
A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is sensible.
The house of the righteous contains great wealth,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the heart of fools—not so.
A sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination[a] to the Lord,
but a prayer of the upright gains his favor.
The way of a wicked person is repulsive[b] to the Lord,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Harsh discipline waits for anyone who leaves the path,
and a person who hates correction will die.
11 Death and Destruction[c] lie open before the Lord
how much more human hearts!
12 A scoffer does not love anyone who corrects him.
He will not go to wise people.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
but a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit.
14 The heart of a discerning person seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
15 All the days of an oppressed person are evil,
but a cheerful heart enjoys a continuous celebration.[d]
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A hothead stirs up a fight,
but a patient person calms a dispute.
19 The way of a lazy person is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of upright people is a highway.

Advice for a Wise Son

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Stupidity delights a person who lacks sense,
but one who has understanding stays on course.
22 Plans fail without advice,
but where there are many advisors they succeed.
23 Giving an apt response with his own mouth makes a person happy,
and a word at the right time—oh how good!
24 The path of life leads upward for a person with insight,
so that he may turn away from hell[e] below.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the arrogant,
but he maintains the property line of a widow.
26 The plans of the wicked are disgusting[f] to the Lord,
but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Someone who is greedy for gain brings trouble to his own household,
but a person who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person ponders his answer,
but the mouth of a wicked person gushes evil.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 A twinkle in the eyes delights the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31 An ear that listens to a life-giving warning
    will find a home among the wise.
32 A person who ignores discipline despises himself,
but a person who listens to a warning acquires good sense.
33 The fear of the Lord gives discipline and wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:8 Or is disgusting or is repulsive
  2. Proverbs 15:9 Or is an abomination
  3. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon
  4. Proverbs 15:15 The word celebration refers to a feast which includes drinking.
  5. Proverbs 15:24 Or the grave. The Hebrew word is sheol.
  6. Proverbs 15:26 Or are an abomination