Proverbs 15:18-16:32

English Standard Version

¹⁸^(A)A hot-tempered man ^(B)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(C)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹The way of ^(D)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(E)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(F)a level highway.
²⁰^(G)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹^(H)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(I)walks straight ahead.
²²^(J)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(K)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴The path of life leads upward ^(L)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵The Lord tears down the house of ^(M)the proud
    but ^(N)maintains ^(O)the widow's boundaries.
²⁶^(P)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(Q)gracious words are pure.
²⁷Whoever is ^(R)greedy for unjust gain ^(S)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(T)bribes will live.
²⁸The heart of the righteous ^(U)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(V)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹The Lord is ^(W)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(X)hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰^(Y)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(Z)good news refreshes^[a] the bones.
³¹^(AA)The ear that listens to ^(AB)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³²Whoever ^(AC)ignores instruction ^(AD)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(AE)gains intelligence.
³³^(AF)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(AG)humility comes before honor.

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(AH)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
²^(AI)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(AJ)weighs the spirit.^[b]
³^(AK)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴^(AL)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(AM)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(AN)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(AO)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By ^(AP)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(AQ)the fear of the Lord one ^(AR)turns away from evil.
⁷When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(AS)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸^(AT)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
⁹^(AU)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(AV)the Lord establishes his steps.
¹⁰^(AW)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹^(AX)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(AY)the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³^(AZ)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴^(BA)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(BB)appease it.
¹⁵^(BC)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(BD)favor is like ^(BE)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶^(BF)How much better to get wisdom than ^(BG)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(BH)silver.
¹⁷The highway of the upright ^(BI)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
¹⁸^(BJ)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹^(BK)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(BL)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word^[c] ^(BM)will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(BN)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(BO)increases persuasiveness.
²²Good sense is ^(BP)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
²³^(BQ)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴^(BR)Gracious words are like ^(BS)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(BT)health to the body.
²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[d]
²⁶A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(BU)mouth urges him on.
²⁷^(BV)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[e] is like ^(BW)a scorching fire.
²⁸^(BX)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(BY)a whisperer ^(BZ)separates close friends.
²⁹A man of violence ^(CA)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans^[f] ^(CB)dishonest things;
    he who ^(CC)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹^(CD)Gray hair is ^(CE)a crown of glory;
    it ^(CF)is gained in a righteous life.
³²^(CG)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.