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15 (A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but (C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
(D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
(E)A gentle[a] tongue is (F)a tree of life,
    but (G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
(H)A fool (I)despises his father's instruction,
    but (J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
(K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (L)not so the hearts of fools.[b]
(M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him (O)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (P)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    (Q)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more (R)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (S)A scoffer (T)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
13 (U)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by (V)sorrow of heart the spirit is (W)crushed.
14 (X)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but (Y)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (Z)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (AA)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than (AB)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 (AC)A hot-tempered man (AD)stirs up strife,
    but he who is (AE)slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of (AF)a sluggard is like a hedge of (AG)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is (AH)a level highway.
20 (AI)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (AJ)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding (AK)walks straight ahead.
22 (AL)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and (AM)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upwards (AN)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (AO)the proud
    but (AP)maintains (AQ)the widow's boundaries.
26 (AR)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but (AS)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (AT)greedy for unjust gain (AU)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates (AV)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (AW)ponders how to answer,
    but (AX)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (AY)far from the wicked,
    but he (AZ)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (BA)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and (BB)good news refreshes[c] the bones.
31 (BC)The ear that listens to (BD)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (BE)ignores instruction (BF)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof (BG)gains intelligence.
33 (BH)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and (BI)humility comes before honour.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
  2. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
  3. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat

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