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Proverbs 15
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15
English Standard Version
15 (A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
but (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but (C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 (D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 (E)A gentle[a] tongue is (F)a tree of life,
but (G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 (H)A fool (I)despises his father's instruction,
but (J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 (K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
(L)not so the hearts of fools.[b]
8 (M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but (N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him (O)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (P)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
(Q)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more (R)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (S)A scoffer (T)does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 (U)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by (V)sorrow of heart the spirit is (W)crushed.
14 (X)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but (Y)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (Z)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (AA)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than (AB)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 (AC)A hot-tempered man (AD)stirs up strife,
but he who is (AE)slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of (AF)a sluggard is like a hedge of (AG)thorns,
but the path of the upright is (AH)a level highway.
20 (AI)A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (AJ)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding (AK)walks straight ahead.
22 (AL)Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and (AM)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (AN)for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (AO)the proud
but (AP)maintains (AQ)the widow's boundaries.
26 (AR)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but (AS)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (AT)greedy for unjust gain (AU)troubles his own household,
but he who hates (AV)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (AW)ponders how to answer,
but (AX)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (AY)far from the wicked,
but he (AZ)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (BA)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and (BB)good news refreshes[c] the bones.
31 (BC)The ear that listens to (BD)life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (BE)ignores instruction (BF)despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof (BG)gains intelligence.
33 (BH)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and (BI)humility comes before honor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
- Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
Proverbs 15
New International Version
Proverbs 15
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)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
Proverbs 15
Names of God Bible
Proverbs 15
Names of God Bible
15 A gentle answer turns away rage,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
3 The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere.
They watch evil people and good people.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.
5 A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
6 Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person,
but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.
7 The lips of wise people spread knowledge,
but a foolish attitude does not.
8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to Yahweh,
but the prayers of decent people please him.
9 The way of wicked people is disgusting to Yahweh,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Discipline is a terrible burden to anyone who leaves the right path.
Anyone who hates a warning will die.
11 If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of Yahweh
how much more the human heart!
12 A mocker does not appreciate a warning.
He will not go to wise people.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
but with a heartache comes depression.
14 The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
15 Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better to have a little with the fear of Yahweh
than great treasure and turmoil.
17 Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love
than juicy steaks where there is hate.
18 A hothead stirs up a fight,
but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge,
but the road of decent people is an open highway.
A Wise Son Brings Blessings to Others
20 A wise son makes his father happy,
but a foolish child despises its mother.
21 Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense,
but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
22 Without advice plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth,
and a timely word—oh, how good!
24 The path of life for a wise person leads upward
in order to turn him away from hell below.
25 Yahweh tears down the house of an arrogant person,
but he protects the property of widows.
26 The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to Yahweh,
but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family,
but whoever hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer,
but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.
29 Yahweh is far from wicked people,
but he hears the prayers of righteous people.
30 A twinkle in the eye delights the heart.
Good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that listens to a life-giving warning
will be at home among wise people.
32 Whoever ignores discipline despises himself,
but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.
33 The fear of Yahweh is discipline leading to wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Names of God Bible (NOG)
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.