Proverbs 15

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,^[a]
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,
    but one who hates a rebuke will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
    how much more human hearts!
¹² Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
    they will not go to the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the poor are hard,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
    than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸ Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
    but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
¹⁹ The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.
²⁰ A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.
²¹ Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
    but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
²² Without counsel, plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
    and a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ For the wise the path of life leads upward,
    in order to avoid Sheol below.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
    but those who hate bribes will live.
²⁸ The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the body.
³¹ The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
    will lodge among the wise.
³² Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
    but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility goes before honor.