Proverbs 15

Lexham English Bible

15 A soft answer will turn away wrath,
    but a word of trouble will stir anger.^[a]
2 The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
³ In every place, the eyes of Yahweh
    keep watch over the evil and the good.
⁴ Gentleness^[b] of tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it^[c] causes a break in spirit.
⁵ A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
    but the heart^[d] of fools, not so.
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked,
    but he who pursues righteousness he will love.
¹⁰ Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way;
    he who hates a rebuke will die.
¹¹ Sheol^[e] and Abaddon^[f] are before Yahweh,
    how much more^[g] the hearts of the children of men!
¹² A scoffer does not like his rebuke;^[h]
    to the wise he will not go.
¹³ A heart^[i] of gladness will make good countenance,^[j]
    but in sorrow of heart^[k] a spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge,
    but the faces of fools, they^[l] will feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the poor are hard,
    but goodness of heart^[m] is a continuous feast.
¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of Yahweh
    than great treasure and trouble with it.^[n]
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables when^[o] love is there
    than a fattened ox and hatred with it.^[p]
18 A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger,^[q] he will calm contention.
¹⁹ The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,^[r]
    but the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
    but a foolish person,^[s] he despises his mother.
²¹ Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,^[t]
    and a person of understanding will walk upright.^[u]
22 Plans go wrong when there is no counsel,
    but with many advisors it will succeed.
²³ Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth,
    and a word in its time, how good it is!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward for him who has insight,
    in order to turn away from Sheol below.
²⁵ The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down,
    but he will maintain the property line^[v] of the widow.
²⁶ Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh,
    but gracious words are pure.
²⁷ He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
²⁸ A heart^[w] of righteousness will ponder the answer,
    but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.
²⁹ Yahweh is far from the wicked,
    but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
³⁰ From the light of the eyes, the heart^[x] will rejoice,
    and good news will enliven the bones.^[y]
31 The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life,
    in the midst of the wise it will lodge.
³² He who ignores instruction despises himself,^[z]
    but he who hears admonition gains heart.^[aa]
33 Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise,
    and before honor comes humility.