Proverbs 15:4-27

New International Version

⁴ The soothing tongue^(A) is a tree of life,^(B)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.^(C)

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.^(D)

⁶ The house of the righteous contains great treasure,^(E)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.^(F)

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,^(G)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice^(H) of the wicked,^(I)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.^(J)

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,^(K)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.^(L)

¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.^(M)

¹¹ Death and Destruction^[a] lie open before the Lord^(N)—
    how much more do human hearts!^(O)

¹² Mockers resent correction,^(P)
    so they avoid the wise.

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^(Q)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.^(R)

¹⁴ The discerning heart seeks knowledge,^(S)
    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.^(T)

¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.^(U)

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.^(V)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(W)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.^(X)

¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,^(Y)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,^(Z)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹ Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,^(AA)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²² Plans fail for lack of counsel,^(AB)
    but with many advisers^(AC) they succeed.^(AD)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(AE)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(AF)

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,^(AG)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.^(AH)

²⁶ The Lord detests the thoughts^(AI) of the wicked,^(AJ)
    but gracious words are pure^(AK) in his sight.

²⁷ The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.^(AL)