Proverbs 15-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.(A)
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(B)
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.(C)
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(D)
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.(E)
9 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)
16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.(AA)
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(AB)
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.(AC)
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.(AD)
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.(AE)
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.(AF)
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.(AG)
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.(AH)
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.(AI)
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.(AJ)
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.(AK)
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.(AL)
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(AM)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit before a fall.(AN)
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.(AO)
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.(AP)
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.(AQ)
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.(AR)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.(AS)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
and lead them in a way that is not good.(AT)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.(AU)
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.(AV)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.(AW)
2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.(AX)
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.(AY)
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(AZ)
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.(BA)
7 Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.[b]
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.(BB)
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(BC)
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(BD)
13 Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.(BE)
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.(BF)
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(BG)
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(BH)
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbor.(BI)
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(BJ)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(BK)
21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.(BL)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.(BM)
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.(BN)
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(BO)
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.(BP)
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right
or to flog the noble for their integrity.(BQ)
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(BR)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(BS)
Proverbs 15-17
New International Version
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(K)
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(N)
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.(T)
12 Mockers resent correction,(W)
so they avoid the wise.
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(Z)
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(AA)
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.(AB)
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.(AC)
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(AF)
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(AG)
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(AH)
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(AN)
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(AO)
26 The Lord detests the thoughts(AP) of the wicked,(AQ)
but gracious words are pure(AR) in his sight.
27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(AS)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(AV)
30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.(AW)
31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.(AX)
32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(AY)
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(AZ)
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(BC)
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(BG)
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(BL) evil is avoided.(BM)
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(BN) with them.(BO)
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(BR)
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(BS)
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(BT)
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.(BU)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.(BV)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(CC)
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[b](CG)
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(CH)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(CJ)
but folly brings punishment to fools.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.(CU)
30 Whoever winks(CV) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(CW)
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.(DA)
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor(DD) shows contempt for their Maker;(DE)
whoever gloats over disaster(DF) will not go unpunished.(DG)
6 Children’s children(DH) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(DI)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(DJ)
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(DK)
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(DL)
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(DM)
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(DP)
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?(DS)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(DT)
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.(DU)
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(DV)
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes(EA) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(EB)
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,(EC)
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(ED)
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(EE)
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.(EF)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
- Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
- Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
- Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.