Proverbs 15:1-33
15 A mild* answer turns away rage,+But a harsh* word stirs up anger.+
2 The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge,+But the mouth of the stupid blurts out foolishness.
3 The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere,Watching both the bad and the good.+
4 A calm tongue* is a tree of life,+But twisted speech causes despair.*
5 A fool disrespects his father’s discipline,+But a shrewd person accepts correction.*+
6 In the house of the righteous one there is abundant treasure,But the produce* of the wicked one brings him trouble.+
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,+But not so the heart of the stupid one.+
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to Jehovah,+But the prayer of the upright is a pleasure to Him.+
9 Jehovah detests the way of the wicked one,+But he loves the one who pursues righteousness.+
10 Discipline seems bad* to one forsaking the way,+But whoever hates reproof will die.+
11 The Grave* and the place of destruction* are in full view of Jehovah.+
How much more so the hearts of men!+
12 The scoffer does not love the one correcting* him.+
He will not consult the wise.+
13 A joyful heart makes for a cheerful countenance,But heartache crushes the spirit.+
14 The understanding heart seeks knowledge,+But the mouth of the stupid feeds on* foolishness.+
15 All the days of the afflicted one are bad,+But the one with a cheerful* heart has a continual feast.+
16 Better is a little in the fear of Jehovah+Than great wealth along with anxiety.*+
17 Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love+Than a fattened* bull where there is hatred.+
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,+But one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.+
19 The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,+But the path of the upright is like a level highway.+
20 A wise son makes his father rejoice,+But a stupid man despises his mother.+
21 Foolishness is a joy to one lacking good sense,*+But the man of discernment walks straight ahead.+
22 Plans fail when there is no consultation,*But there is accomplishment through many advisers.*+
23 A man rejoices in giving the right answer,*+And a word spoken at the right time—how good it is!+
24 The path of life leads upward to one with insight,+To turn him away from the Grave* below.+
25 Jehovah will tear down the house of the haughty,+But he will preserve the boundary of the widow.+
26 Jehovah detests the schemes of the wicked one,+But pleasant sayings are pure to Him.+
27 The one making dishonest profit brings trouble* on his own household,+But the one hating bribes will keep living.+
28 The heart of the righteous one meditates before answering,*+But the mouth of the wicked blurts out bad things.
29 Jehovah is far away from the wicked,But he hears the prayer of the righteous.+
30 Bright eyes make* the heart rejoice;A good report invigorates the bones.*+
31 The one who listens to life-giving reproofIs at home among the wise.+
32 Anyone refusing discipline despises his life,*+But whoever listens to reproof acquires understanding.*+
33 The fear of Jehovah is a training in wisdom,+And before glory there is humility.+
Footnotes
^ Or “gentle.”
^ Or “painful.”
^ Or “A tongue of healing.”
^ Lit., “the crushing of the spirit.”
^ Or “reproof.”
^ Or “income.”
^ Or “severe.”
^ Or “and Abaddon.”
^ Or “reproving.”
^ Or “pursues.”
^ Or “good.”
^ Or “confusion.”
^ Lit., “manger-fed.”
^ Lit., “in want of heart.”
^ Or “confidential talk.”
^ Or “counselors.”
^ Lit., “in the answer of his mouth.”
^ Or “disgrace.”
^ Or “carefully considers how to answer; thinks before speaking.”
^ Lit., “makes the bones fat.”
^ Or “A cheerful glance makes.”
^ Or “soul.”
^ Lit., “heart.”
