Proverbs 15

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,^[a]
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises his father’s instruction,
    but he who heeds admonition is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.
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 to the Lord,
    but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    he who hates reproof will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord
    how much more the hearts of men!
¹² A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    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.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹ The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.
²⁰ A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹ Folly is a joy to him who has no sense,
    but a man of understanding walks aright.
²² Without counsel plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ The wise man’s path leads upward to life,
    that he may avoid Sheol beneath.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    the words of the pure are pleasing to him.^[b]
27 He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
²⁸ The mind of the righteous ponders how 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 good news refreshes^[c] the bones.
³¹ He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition
    will abide among the wise.
³² He who ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who heeds admonition gains understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility goes before honor.