15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

15 A (A)soft answer turns away wrath,
But (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
(C)But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

(D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

A [a]wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

(E)A fool despises his father’s instruction,
(F)But he who [b]receives correction is prudent.

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

The lips of the wise [c]disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

(G)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who (H)follows righteousness.

10 (I)Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And (J)he who hates correction will die.

11 (K)Hell[d] and [e]Destruction are before the Lord;
So how much more (L)the hearts of the sons of men.

12 (M)A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

13 (N)A merry heart makes a cheerful [f]countenance,
But (O)by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
(P)But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 (Q)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17 (R)Better is a dinner of [g]herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 (S)A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

19 (T)The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

20 (U)A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 (V)Folly is joy to him who is destitute of [h]discernment,
(W)But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 (X)Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And (Y)a word spoken [i]in due season, how good it is!

24 (Z)The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may (AA)turn away from [j]hell below.

25 (AB)The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But (AC)He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 (AD)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
(AE)But the words of the pure are pleasant.

27 (AF)He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous (AG)studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 (AH)The Lord is far from the wicked,
But (AI)He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones [k]healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 (AJ)The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And (AK)before honor is humility.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Lit. healing
  2. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
  3. Proverbs 15:7 spread
  4. Proverbs 15:11 Or Sheol
  5. Proverbs 15:11 Heb. Abaddon
  6. Proverbs 15:13 face
  7. Proverbs 15:17 Or vegetables
  8. Proverbs 15:21 Lit. heart
  9. Proverbs 15:23 Lit. in its time
  10. Proverbs 15:24 Or Sheol
  11. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. fat

15 (A) Ett mjukt svar stillar vrede,

    sårande ord väcker harm.

(B) De visas tunga ger god kunskap,
    dårars mun flödar av oförnuft.

(C) Herrens ögon är överallt,
    de vakar över både onda och goda.

(D) En läkande tunga är ett livets träd,
    en falsk tunga ger hjärtesår.

(E) Dåren föraktar sin fars fostran,
    klok är den som tar vara
        på tillrättavisning.

(F) Den rättfärdiges hus
        rymmer stor rikedom,
    men den gudlöses vinst
        för med sig bekymmer.

(G) De visas läppar sprider kunskap,
    men så gör inte dårarnas hjärtan[a].

(H) De gudlösas offer
        är avskyvärda för Herren,
    de ärligas bön behagar honom.

(I) Herren avskyr den gudlöses väg,
    men han älskar den som strävar
        efter rättfärdighet.

10 (J) Fostran är något ont[b]
        för den som överger vägen,
    men den som hatar tillrättavisning
        måste dö.

11 (K) Dödsriket och avgrunden[c]
        ligger öppna för Herren,
    hur mycket mer då
        människors hjärtan!

12 (L) Hånaren ogillar tillrättavisning,
    till de visa vill han inte gå.

13 (M) Ett glatt hjärta gör ansiktet ljust,
    hjärtesorg ger modlöshet.

14 (N) Den förståndiges hjärta
        söker kunskap,
    dårars mun närs av dårskap.

15 Den betryckte
        har aldrig en glad dag,
    men ett glatt hjärta
        har ständig fest.

16 (O) Bättre ha lite
        med vördnad för Herren
    än stora skatter med oro.

17 (P) Bättre ett fat kål med kärlek
    än en gödd oxe med hat.

18 (Q) En hetlevrad man skapar gräl,
    den tålmodige stillar tvisten.

19 Den lates stig är spärrad av törne,
    de ärliga har en banad väg.

20 (R) En vis son gläder sin far,
    en dåre föraktar sin mor.

21 (S) Den vettlöse har sin glädje
        i dårskap,
    den förståndige går sin väg
        rakt fram.

22 (T) Där samråd saknas slår planerna fel,
    med många rådgivare lyckas de.

23 (U) Man blir glad när man kan ge svar,
    hur gott är inte ett ord i rätt tid!

24 (V) Den förståndige vandrar
        livets väg uppåt
    för att undvika dödsriket
        där nere.

25 (W) Herren river den högmodiges hus
    men låter änkans gränssten stå fast.

26 För Herren
        är ondskans planer avskyvärda,
    men milda ord är rena.

27 (X) Den som söker oärlig vinst
        drar olycka över sin familj,
    men den som hatar mutor får leva.

28 Den rättfärdiges hjärta
        svarar med eftertanke,
    de gudlösas mun flödar
        av ondska.

29 (Y) Herren är fjärran från de gudlösa,
    men han hör de rättfärdigas bön.

30 En mild blick gör hjärtat glatt,
    ett gott budskap ger märg åt benen.

31 (Z) Den som lyssnar till
        livets tillrättavisning
    får bo bland de visa.

32 (AA) Den som avvisar fostran
        föraktar sitt liv,
    den som lyssnar på tillrättavisning
        får förstånd.

33 (AB) Vördnad för Herren
        fostrar till vishet,
    ödmjukhet går före ära.

Footnotes

  1. 15:7 så gör inte dårarnas hjärtan   Annan översättning: ”dårarnas hjärtan är inte rätta”.
  2. 15:10 Fostran är något ont   Annan översättning: ”Sträng fostran”.
  3. 15:11 avgrunden   Hebr. Abaddón (jfr Upp 9:11). Annan översättning: ”fördärvet” (även i 27:20).