15 A gentle answer(A) turns away wrath,(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(D)

The eyes(E) of the Lord are everywhere,(F)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(G)

The soothing tongue(H) is a tree of life,(I)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(J)

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

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)

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

The Lord detests the sacrifice(O) of the wicked,(P)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(Q)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(R)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(S)

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

11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord(U)
    how much more do human hearts!(V)

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

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(X)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(Y)

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)

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

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.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(AI)
    but with many advisers(AJ) they succeed.(AK)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(AL)
    and how good is a timely word!(AM)

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)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(AT)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(AU)

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)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(AY)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(AZ)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(BA)
    and humility comes before honor.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon

15 La respuesta amable calma la ira,
    pero la agresiva provoca el enojo.

La lengua de los sabios adorna el conocimiento;[a]
    la boca de los necios escupe necedades.

Los ojos del Señor están en todo lugar,
    vigilando a los buenos y a los malos.

La lengua que brinda alivio[b] es árbol de vida;
    la lengua perversa deprime el espíritu.

El necio desprecia la corrección de su padre;
    el que la acepta demuestra prudencia.

En la casa del justo hay gran abundancia;
    en las ganancias del malvado, grandes problemas.

Los labios de los sabios esparcen conocimiento;
    el corazón de los necios ni piensa en ello.

El Señor aborrece los sacrificios de los malvados,
    pero se complace en la oración de los justos.

El Señor aborrece el camino de los malvados,
    pero ama a quienes siguen la justicia.

10 Para el descarriado, disciplina severa;
    para el que aborrece la corrección, la muerte.

11 Muerte[c] y Destrucción[d] están abiertas ante el Señor,
    ¡cuánto más los corazones humanos!

12 Al insolente no le gusta que lo corrijan
    ni busca la compañía de los sabios.

13 El corazón alegre se refleja en el rostro,
    el corazón dolido deprime el espíritu.

14 El corazón entendido va tras el conocimiento;
    la boca de los necios se nutre de tonterías.

15 Para el afligido todos los días son malos;
    para el que es feliz, todos son de fiesta.

16 Más vale tener poco, con temor del Señor,
    que muchas riquezas con grandes angustias.

17 Más vale comer verduras sazonadas con amor
    que toro engordado con odio.

18 El que es iracundo provoca contiendas;
    el que es paciente las apacigua.

19 El camino del perezoso está plagado de espinas,
    pero la senda del justo es como una calzada.

20 El hijo sabio alegra a su padre;
    el hijo necio menosprecia a su madre.

21 Al necio le divierte su falta de juicio;
    el entendido endereza sus propios pasos.

22 Cuando falta el consejo, fracasan los planes;
    cuando abunda el consejo, prosperan.

23 Es muy grato dar la respuesta adecuada
    y, cuando es oportuna, aún es más grato.

24 El sabio sube por el sendero de vida,
    para librarse de caer en los dominios de la muerte.[e]

25 El Señor derriba la casa de los soberbios,
    pero mantiene intactos los linderos de las viudas.

26 El Señor aborrece los planes de los malvados,
    pero se complace en las palabras puras.

27 El ambicioso acarrea mal sobre su familia;
    el que aborrece el soborno vivirá.

28 El corazón del justo medita sus respuestas,
    pero la boca del malvado rebosa de maldad.

29 El Señor se mantiene lejos de los impíos,
    pero escucha las oraciones de los justos.

30 Una mirada radiante alegra el corazón
    y las buenas noticias renuevan los huesos.

31 El que atiende a la reprensión que da vida,
    habitará entre los sabios.

32 El que rechaza la corrección se desprecia a sí mismo;
    el que la atiende gana entendimiento.

33 El temor del Señor imparte sabiduría;
    la humildad precede a la honra.

Footnotes

  1. 15:2 adorna el conocimiento (LXX); hace bien al conocimiento (TM).
  2. 15:4 que brinda alivio. Lit. que sana.
  3. 15:11 Muerte. Lit. Seol.
  4. 15:11 Destrucción. Lit. el Abadón.
  5. 15:24 en los dominios de la muerte. Lit. en el Seol.

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 If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry.
    But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
When wise people speak, they show that knowledge is good.
    But when fools speak, they only say foolish things.
The Lord sees what happens everywhere.
    He is watching what evil people do, and good people too.
Kind words are like the fruit of a tree that gives life.
    But words that are not honest make people sad and weak.
A fool hates his father's rules.
    But a wise child learns when his father warns him.
Righteous people have many valuable things in their homes.
    But the riches of wicked people bring trouble to them.
When wise people speak, they give knowledge,
    but the minds of fools have nothing to give.
When wicked people offer sacrifices to the Lord, he hates it.
    But he is pleased when good people pray to him.
The Lord hates the way that wicked people live.
    But he loves people who want to do what is right.
10 If you leave God's way, you will receive strong punishment.
    When people warn you, accept it or you will die.
11 The Lord sees clearly into the deep hole of death.
    So you can be sure that he knows people's secret thoughts.
12 Proud people do not like it when someone warns them.
    They will not ask wise people to give them advice.
13 When someone is happy, their face smiles.
    But when someone is sad, their spirit hurts.
14 Wise people want to learn more.
    But fools only want to know useless things.
15 Every day is difficult, if you have trouble in your mind.
    But if you are happy, every day is like a feast.
16 You may be poor, but you respect and obey the Lord.
    That is better than if you are very rich, but you have a lot of trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with people who love each other
    than to eat good meat with people who hate each other.
18 Angry people bring quarrels,
    but patient people bring peace.
19 A lazy person always has problems,
    as if he is walking through thorn bushes.
But an honest person walks on a straight road through life.
20 A wise child makes his father happy.
    But a foolish person does not respect his mother.
21 Stupid people are happy when they do foolish things.
    But wise people walk on a straight path.
22 Without good advice, your ideas will never happen.
    But you will do well if you have many advisors.
23 It makes you happy when you give a good answer to a question.
    It is good when you find the right thing to say at the right time.
24 A wise person walks on a path that leads him up to a long life.
    He keeps away from the path that would lead him down to death.
25 The Lord destroys the homes of proud men.
    But he keeps the land of widows safe.
26 The Lord hates the thoughts of wicked people.
    But kind words please him.
27 Anyone who cheats people to become rich
    will cause trouble for his family.
But anyone who refuses to accept bribes
    will live safely.
28 Righteous people think carefully before they answer someone.
    But when wicked people speak, the result is only trouble.
29 The Lord does not answer the prayers of wicked people.
    But when righteous people pray, he listens.
30 If someone smiles at you, it makes you happy.
    Good news makes you feel strong.
31 If anyone accepts teaching that helps him to live in a good way,
    he becomes a friend of wise people.
32 If you refuse to accept it when people warn you,
    you are hurting yourself.
But if you agree to listen,
    you will learn to do what is right.
33 If you respect and obey the Lord,
    that will teach you wisdom.
If you want to receive honour,
    first learn to be humble.