Proverbs 15

English Standard Version

15 ^(A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but ^(B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but ^(C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
^3 (D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
^4 (E)A gentle^[a] tongue is ^(F)a tree of life,
    but ^(G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
^5 (H)A fool ^(I)despises his father's instruction,
    but ^(J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
^7 (K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(L)not so the hearts of fools.^[b]
8 (M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹ 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 upward ^(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 honor.