Proverbs 15:16-27

Amplified Bible

¹⁶ 
Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and trouble with it.^(A)
17 
Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.^(B)
18 
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.
¹⁹ 
The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him],
But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.
²⁰ 
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹ 
Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].^(C)
22 
Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they are established and succeed.
²³ 
A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer,
And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!
²⁴ 
The [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise,
That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below.^(D)
25 
The Lord will tear down the house of the proud and arrogant (self-righteous),
But He will establish and protect the boundaries [of the land] of the [godly] widow.
²⁶ 
Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the Lord,
But pure words are pleasant words to Him.
²⁷ 
He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.^(E)