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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)

How to Live Wisely

15 A gentle response diverts anger,
but a harsh statement incites fury.
The wise speak, presenting[a] knowledge appropriately,
    but fools spout foolishness.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    observing both the evil and the good.

A gentle statement[b] is a tree of life,
    but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

A fool rejects his father’s instructions,
    but anyone who respects[c] reproof acts sensibly.

The righteous house is itself[d] a great treasure,
    but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.
What the wise have to say disseminates[e] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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.

30 Bright eyes[n] encourage the heart;
    good news nourishes the body.[o]

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

  1. Proverbs 15:2 Lit. The tongues of the wise present
  2. Proverbs 15:4 Lit. tongue
  3. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
  4. Proverbs 15:6 The Heb. lacks itself
  5. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread
  6. Proverbs 15:11 I.e. the realm of the dead
  7. Proverbs 15:11 I.e. the realm of destruction in the afterlife
  8. Proverbs 15:12 Lit. not go to
  9. Proverbs 15:15 Lit. All the days
  10. Proverbs 15:17 Lit. A meal of herbs
  11. Proverbs 15:17 Lit. a fattened ox
  12. Proverbs 15:17 The Heb. lacks a plateful of
  13. Proverbs 15:24 I.e. the realm of the dead
  14. Proverbs 15:30 Or A cheerful look
  15. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. bones
  16. Proverbs 15:32 Lit. heart