Proverbs 15:1-33
15 An answer, when mild, turns away rage,+ but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.+
2 The tongue of wise ones does good with knowledge,+ but the mouth of the stupid ones bubbles forth with foolishness.+
3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place,+ keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones.+
4 The calmness of the tongue is a tree of life,+ but distortion in it means a breaking down in the spirit.+
5 Anyone foolish disrespects the discipline of his father,+ but anyone regarding reproof is shrewd.+
6 In the house* of the righteous one there is an abundant store,+ but in the produce of the wicked one there is a becoming ostracized.+
7 The lips of the wise ones keep scattering knowledge about,+ but the heart of the stupid ones is not like that.+
8 The sacrifice of the wicked ones is something detestable to Jehovah,+ but the prayer of the upright ones is a pleasure to him.+
9 The way of the wicked one is something detestable to Jehovah,+ but the one pursuing righteousness he loves.+
10 Discipline is bad to the one leaving the path;+ anyone hating reproof will die.+
11 Sheʹol and [the place of] destruction*+ are in front of Jehovah.+ How much more so the hearts of the sons of mankind!*+
12 The ridiculer does not love the one reproving him.+ To the wise ones he will not go.+
13 A joyful heart has a good effect on the countenance,+ but because of the pain of the heart there is a stricken spirit.+
14 The understanding heart is one that searches for knowledge,+ but the mouth of stupid people is one that aspires to foolishness.+
15 All the days of the afflicted one are bad;+ but the one that is good at heart* [has] a feast constantly.+
16 Better is a little in the fear of Jehovah+ than an abundant supply and confusion along with it.+
17 Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love+ than a manger-fed bull and hatred along with it.+
18 An enraged man stirs up contention,+ but one that is slow to anger quiets down quarreling.+
19 The way of the lazy one is like a brier hedge,+ but the path of the upright ones is a way cast up.+
20 A wise son is the one that makes a father rejoice,+ but a stupid man is despising his mother.+
21 Foolishness is a rejoicing to one who is in want of heart,*+ but the man of discernment is one who goes straight ahead.+
22 There is a frustrating of plans where there is no confidential talk,+ but in the multitude of counselors there is accomplishment.+
23 A man has rejoicing in the answer of his mouth,+ and a word at its right time is O how good!+
24 The path of life is upward to one acting with insight,+ in order to turn away from Sheʹol down below.+
25 The house of the self-exalted ones Jehovah will tear down,+ but he will fix the boundary of the widow.+
26 The schemes of the bad one are something detestable to Jehovah,+ but pleasant sayings are clean.+
27 The one making unjust profit is bringing ostracism upon his own house,+ but the hater of gifts is the one that will keep living.+
28 The heart of the righteous one meditates* so as to answer,+ but the mouth of the wicked ones bubbles forth with bad things.+
29 Jehovah is far away from the wicked ones,+ but the prayer of the righteous ones he hears.+
30 The brightness of the eyes+ makes the heart rejoice;+ a report+ that is good makes the bones fat.+
31 The ear that is listening to the reproof+ of life lodges right in among wise people.+
32 Anyone shunning discipline+ is rejecting his own soul, but the one listening to reproof is acquiring heart.*+
33 The fear of Jehovah is a discipline toward wisdom,+ and before glory there is humility.+
Footnotes
^ “In the house(s),” TLXXSy; MVg, “The house.”
^ Or, “earthling man.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ “But . . . good (merry) at heart.” Heb., wetohv-levʹ.
^ Or, “to one lacking good motive.” Heb., la·chasar-levʹ.
^ Or, “considers, muttering.”
^ Or, “is acquiring good motive.” Heb., qohʹneh lev.
