Proverbs 15-19

Christian Standard Bible

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

² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.^(C)

³ The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.^(D)

⁴ The tongue that heals is a tree of life,^(E)
but a devious tongue^[a] breaks the spirit.

⁵ A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.^(F)

⁶ The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

⁷ The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,^(G)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.^(H)

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.^(I)

¹⁰ Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord^(J)—
how much more, human hearts.^(K)

¹² A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;^(L)
he will not consult the wise.

¹³ A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.^(M)

¹⁴ A discerning mind seeks knowledge,^(N)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.^(O)

¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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

¹⁷ Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox^(Q) with hatred.^(R)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(S)
but one slow to anger^(T) calms strife.

¹⁹ A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.^(U)

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

²¹ Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,
but a person with understanding walks a straight path.^(W)

²² Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.^(X)

²³ A person takes joy in giving an answer;^[b]
and a timely word—how good that is!^(Y)

²⁴ For the prudent the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

²⁵ The Lord tears apart the house of the proud,
but he protects the widow’s territory.^(Z)

²⁶ The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil,
but pleasant words are pure.^(AA)

²⁷ The one who profits dishonestly^(AB) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.^(AC)

²⁸ The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,^(AD)
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.^(AE)

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,^(AF)
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.^(AG)

³⁰ Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens^[c] the bones.^(AH)

³¹ One who^[d] listens to life-giving rebukes^(AI)
will be at home among the wise.

³² Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,^(AJ)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.^[e](AK)

³³ The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.^(AL)

16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.^(AM)

² All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.^[f](AN)

³ Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.^(AO)

⁴ The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.^(AP)

⁵ Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;^(AQ)
be assured,^[g] he will not go unpunished.^(AR)

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,^(AS)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.^(AT)

⁷ When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.^(AU)

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.^(AV)

⁹ A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.^(AW)

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;^[h](AX)
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.^(AY)

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.^(AZ)

¹² Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,^(BA)
since a throne is established through righteousness.^(BB)

¹³ Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.

¹⁴ A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.^(BC)

¹⁵ When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

¹⁶ Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.^(BD)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright^(BE) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.^(BF)

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.^(BG)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble^[i](BH)
than to divide plunder with the proud.^(BI)

²⁰ The one who understands a matter finds success,^(BJ)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.^(BK)

²¹ Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech^[j] increases learning.^(BL)

²² Insight is a fountain of life^(BM) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.^[k](BN)

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb:^(BO)
sweet to the taste^[l] and health to the body.^[m](BP)

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.^(BQ)

²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger^[n] urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.^(BR)

²⁸ A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.^(BS)

²⁹ A violent person lures his neighbor,^(BT)
leading him on a path that is not good.^(BU)

³⁰ The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.^(BV)

³¹ Gray hair is a glorious crown;^(BW)
it is found in the ways of righteousness.^(BX)

³² Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,^[o] than capturing a city.^(BY)

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.^(BZ)

17 Better a dry crust with peace
than a house full of feasting with strife.^(CA)

² A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

³ A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,^(CB)
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.^(CC)

⁴ A wicked person listens to malicious talk;^[p]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

⁵ The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,^(CD)
and one who rejoices over calamity
will not go unpunished.^(CE)

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the pride of children is their fathers.

⁷ Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

⁸ A bribe^(CF) seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.^(CG)

⁹ Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,^(CH)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.^(CI)

¹⁰ A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person
more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil person desires only rebellion;
a cruel messenger^[q](CJ) will be sent against him.

¹² Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs^(CK)
than a fool in his foolishness.

¹³ If anyone returns evil for good,^(CL)
evil will never depart from his house.^(CM)

¹⁴ To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.^(CN)

¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just^(CO)—
both are detestable to the Lord.

¹⁶ Why does a fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?^(CP)

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,^(CQ)
and a brother is born for a difficult time.

¹⁸ One without sense enters an agreement^[r]
and puts up security for his friend.^(CR)

¹⁹ One who loves to offend loves strife;^(CS)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

²⁰ One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.^(CT)

²¹ A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;
the father of a fool has no joy.^(CU)

²² A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.^(CV)

²³ A wicked person secretly takes a bribe^(CW)
to subvert the course of justice.^(CX)

²⁴ Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes^(CY) roam to the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.^(CZ)

²⁶ It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person
or to beat a noble for his honesty.^[s](DA)

²⁷ The one who has knowledge restrains his words,^(DB)
and one who keeps a cool head^[t]
is a person of understanding.

²⁸ Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—
discerning, when he seals his lips.^(DC)

18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.

² A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.^[u](DD)

³ When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
and along with dishonor, derision.

⁴ The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,^(DE)
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.^[v]

⁵ It is not good to show partiality to the guilty,^(DF)
denying an innocent person justice.^(DG)

⁶ A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.^(DH)

⁷ A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.^(DI)

⁸ A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.^[w](DJ)

⁹ The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.^[x](DK)

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower;^(DL)
the righteous run to it and are protected.^[y](DM)

¹¹ The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.^(DN)

¹² Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,^(DO)
but humility comes before honor.^(DP)

¹³ The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.^(DQ)

¹⁴ A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?^(DR)

¹⁵ The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.^(DS)

¹⁶ A person’s gift opens doors^[z] for him
and brings him before the great.^(DT)

¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.^(DU)

¹⁸ Casting the lot^(DV) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach^[aa]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰ From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.^(DW)

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.^(DX)

²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing^(DY)
and obtains favor from the Lord.^(DZ)

²³ The poor person pleads,^(EA)
but the rich one answers roughly.^(EB)

²⁴ One with many friends may be harmed,^[ab]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^(EC)

19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity^(ED)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,^(EE)
and the one who acts hastily^[ac] sins.^(EF)

³ A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.^(EG)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,^(EH)
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,^(EI)
and one who utters lies will not escape.^(EJ)

⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,^(EK)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.^(EL)

⁷ All the brothers of a poor person hate him;^(EM)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,^(EN)
but they are not there.^[ad]

⁸ The one who acquires good sense^[ae] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.^(EO)

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.^(EP)

¹⁰ Luxury is not appropriate for a fool^(EQ)—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!^(ER)

¹¹ A person’s insight gives him patience,^(ES)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^(ET)

¹² A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,^(EU)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.^(EV)

¹³ A foolish son is his father’s ruin,^(EW)
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.^(EX)

¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,^(EY)
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵ Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.^(EZ)

¹⁶ The one who keeps commands preserves himself;^(FA)
one who disregards^[af] his ways will die.^(FB)

¹⁷ Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,^(FC)
and he will give a reward to the lender.^[ag](FD)

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.^[ah](FE)

¹⁹ A person with intense anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.^(FF)

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.^[ai](FG)

²¹ Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.^(FH)

²² What is desirable in a person is his fidelity;
better to be a poor person than a liar.^(FI)

²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night^[aj] without danger.^(FJ)

²⁴ The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!^(FK)

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;^(FL)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.^(FM)

²⁶ The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷ If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.^(FN)

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.^(FO)