Proverbs 15:6-16:16

English Standard Version

⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷^(A)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(B)not so the hearts of fools.^[a]
⁸^(C)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(D)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him ^(E)who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰There is ^(F)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    ^(G)whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more ^(H)the hearts of the children of man!
¹²^(I)A scoffer ^(J)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
¹³^(K)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by ^(L)sorrow of heart the spirit is ^(M)crushed.
¹⁴^(N)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but ^(O)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶^(P)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷^(Q)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than ^(R)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸^(S)A hot-tempered man ^(T)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(U)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹The way of ^(V)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(W)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(X)a level highway.
²⁰^(Y)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹^(Z)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(AA)walks straight ahead.
²²^(AB)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(AC)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴The path of life leads upward ^(AD)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵The Lord tears down the house of ^(AE)the proud
    but ^(AF)maintains ^(AG)the widow's boundaries.
²⁶^(AH)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(AI)gracious words are pure.
²⁷Whoever is ^(AJ)greedy for unjust gain ^(AK)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(AL)bribes will live.
²⁸The heart of the righteous ^(AM)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(AN)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹The Lord is ^(AO)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(AP)hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰^(AQ)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(AR)good news refreshes^[b] the bones.
³¹^(AS)The ear that listens to ^(AT)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³²Whoever ^(AU)ignores instruction ^(AV)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(AW)gains intelligence.
³³^(AX)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(AY)humility comes before honor.

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(AZ)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
²^(BA)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(BB)weighs the spirit.^[c]
³^(BC)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴^(BD)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(BE)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(BF)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(BG)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By ^(BH)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(BI)the fear of the Lord one ^(BJ)turns away from evil.
⁷When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(BK)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸^(BL)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
⁹^(BM)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(BN)the Lord establishes his steps.
¹⁰^(BO)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹^(BP)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(BQ)the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³^(BR)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴^(BS)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(BT)appease it.
¹⁵^(BU)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(BV)favor is like ^(BW)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶^(BX)How much better to get wisdom than ^(BY)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(BZ)silver.