Proverbs 15-16
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.
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but (BJ)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 (BK)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord (BL)weighs the spirit.[d]
3 (BM)Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 (BN)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even (BO)the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (BP)an abomination to the Lord;
(BQ)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (BR)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by (BS)the fear of the Lord one (BT)turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
(BU)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 (BV)Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 (BW)The heart of man plans his way,
but (BX)the Lord establishes his steps.
10 (BY)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 (BZ)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for (CA)the throne is established by righteousness.
13 (CB)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 (CC)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will (CD)appease it.
15 (CE)In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his (CF)favor is like (CG)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (CH)How much better to get wisdom than (CI)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (CJ)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (CK)turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (CL)Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (CM)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to (CN)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[e] (CO)will discover good,
and blessed is he (CP)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech (CQ)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (CR)a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (CS)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (CT)Gracious words are like (CU)a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and (CV)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[f]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
his (CW)mouth urges him on.
27 (CX)A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[g] is like (CY)a scorching fire.
28 (CZ)A dishonest man spreads strife,
and (DA)a whisperer (DB)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (DC)entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[h] (DD)dishonest things;
he who (DE)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (DF)Gray hair is (DG)a crown of glory;
it (DH)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (DI)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (DJ)The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is (DK)from the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
- Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
- Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
- Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
- Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
- Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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