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15 A soft answer will turn away wrath,
    but a word of trouble will stir anger.[a]
The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
In every place, the eyes of Yahweh
    keep watch over the evil and the good.
Gentleness[b] of tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it[c] causes a break in spirit.
A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
    but the heart[d] of fools, not so.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked,
    but he who pursues righteousness he will love.
10 Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way;
    he who hates a rebuke will die.
11 Sheol[e] and Abaddon[f] are before Yahweh,
    how much more[g] the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer does not like his rebuke;[h]
    to the wise he will not go.
13 A heart[i] of gladness will make good countenance,[j]
    but in sorrow of heart[k] a spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge,
    but the faces of fools, they[l] will feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but goodness of heart[m] is a continuous feast.
16 Better is little with the fear of Yahweh
    than great treasure and trouble with it.[n]
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables when[o] love is there
    than a fattened ox and hatred with it.[p]
18 A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger,[q] he will calm contention.
19 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,[r]
    but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
    but a foolish person,[s] he despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,[t]
    and a person of understanding will walk upright.[u]
22 Plans go wrong when there is no counsel,
    but with many advisors it will succeed.
23 Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth,
    and a word in its time, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for him who has insight,
    in order to turn away from Sheol below.
25 The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down,
    but he will maintain the property line[v] of the widow.
26 Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh,
    but gracious words are pure.
27 He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
28 A heart[w] of righteousness will ponder the answer,
    but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked,
    but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
30 From the light of the eyes, the heart[x] will rejoice,
    and good news will enliven the bones.[y]
31 The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life,
    in the midst of the wise it will lodge.
32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[z]
    but he who hears admonition gains heart.[aa]
33 Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise,
    and before honor comes humility.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:1 Literally “nostril”
  2. Proverbs 15:4 Or “Healing”
  3. Proverbs 15:4 That is, the tongue
  4. Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”
  5. Proverbs 15:11 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
  6. Proverbs 15:11 Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the ot in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.
  7. Proverbs 15:11 Literally “more for”
  8. Proverbs 15:12 Literally “rebuke belonging to him”
  9. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  10. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  11. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  12. Proverbs 15:14 Hebrew “he/it”
  13. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”
  14. Proverbs 15:16 Or “him”
  15. Proverbs 15:17 Hebrew “and”
  16. Proverbs 15:17 Or “him”
  17. Proverbs 15:18 Literally “nostrils”
  18. Proverbs 15:19 Hebrew “thorn”
  19. Proverbs 15:20 Literally “foolishness of humankind”
  20. Proverbs 15:21 Literally “heart”
  21. Proverbs 15:21 Literally “he will walk upright walking”
  22. Proverbs 15:25 Literally “boundary”
  23. Proverbs 15:28 Or “mind”
  24. Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
  25. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”
  26. Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  27. Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”

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