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15 A gentle response deflects fury,
    but a harsh word makes tempers rise.
The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well,
    but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.

The eyes of Adonai are everywhere,
    watching the evil and the good.

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
    but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.

A fool despises his father’s discipline,
    but he who heeds warnings is prudent.

The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure,
    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.

Adonai detests the sacrifices of the wicked
    but delights in the prayers of the upright.
Adonai detests the way of the wicked
    but loves anyone who pursues righteousness.

10 Discipline is severe for one who leaves the way,
    and whoever can’t stand correction will die.

11 Sh’ol and Abaddon lie open to Adonai;
    so how much more people’s hearts!
12 A scorner does not like being corrected;
    he won’t go to the wise [for advice].

13 A glad heart makes a face happy,
    but heartache breaks the spirit.

14 The mind of a person with discernment seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 For the poor, every day is hard;
    but the good-hearted have a perpetual feast.
16 Better little with the fear of Adonai
    than great wealth coupled with worry.
17 Better a vegetable dinner with love
    than a stall-fattened ox with hate.

18 Hot-tempered people stir up strife,
    but patient people quiet quarrels.

19 The lazy person’s way seems overgrown by thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son is a joy to his father,
    and only a fool despises his mother.

21 Folly appeals to one who lacks sense,
    but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.

22 Without deliberation, plans go wrong;
    but with many advisers, they succeed.

23 People take pleasure in anything they say;
    but a word at the right time, how good it is!

24 For the prudent, the path of life goes upward;
    thus he avoids Sh’ol below.

25 Adonai will pull down the houses of the proud,
    but preserves intact the widow’s boundaries.

26 Adonai detests plans to do evil,
    but kind words are pure.

27 The greedy for gain brings trouble to his home,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,
    but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil stuff.
29 Adonai is far from the wicked,
    but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.

30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart,
    and good news invigorates the bones.

31 He who heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home in the company of the wise.
32 He who spurns discipline detests himself,
    but he who listens to correction grows in understanding.
33 The discipline of wisdom is fear of Adonai,
    so before being honored, a person must be humble.

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