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15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A fool despises his father’s correction,
    but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so with the heart of fools.
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way:
    whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol[a] and Abaddon are before Yahweh—
    how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
    but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,
    than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention,
    but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,
    but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,
    but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
    but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.
    How good is a word at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,
    to keep him from going downward to Sheol.[b]
25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,
    but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,
    but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
    Good news gives health to the bones.
31 The ear that listens to reproof lives,
    and will be at home among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul,
    but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.
    Before honor is humility.

Footnotes

  1. 15:11 Sheol is the place of the dead.
  2. 15:24 Sheol is the place of the dead.

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath;
But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright;
But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
The eyes of Jehovah are in every place,
Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
[a]A gentle tongue is a tree of life;
But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A fool despiseth his father’s [b]correction;
But he that regardeth reproof [c]getteth prudence.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure;
But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge;
But the heart of the foolish [d]doeth not so.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah;
But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Hebrew The healing of the tongue.
  2. Proverbs 15:5 Or, instruction
  3. Proverbs 15:5 Or, dealeth prudently
  4. Proverbs 15:7 Or, is not stedfast (or, right)
  5. Proverbs 15:11 Or, Destruction
  6. Proverbs 15:17 Or, portion
  7. Proverbs 15:21 Hebrew heart.
  8. Proverbs 15:26 Or, the pure speak pleasant words
  9. Proverbs 15:32 Or, instruction
  10. Proverbs 15:32 Hebrew heart.