Proverbs 15
1 When people are angry with you, reply to them gently, and it will calm them; but if you reply harshly to them, it causes them to become more angry.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 When wise [people] speak [MTY], it causes those who hear what they say to want to know more; foolish people continually say [MTY] what is foolish.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
3 Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do].
The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 Those who speak [MTY] kindly to people are [like] [MET] trees [whose fruit gives] life; speaking what is false causes people to (despair/feel very discouraged).
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it.
A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 There are many valuable things in the houses of righteous [people]; the wealth of wicked [people] causes them to have troubles/difficulties.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
8 Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people].
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will die.
There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Yahweh knows [what is happening in] the place where dead people [DOU] are, so he certainly knows [RHQ] what people are thinking. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol (Sheol h7585) and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them].
A scoffer does not love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13 When people are happy, they have smiles on their faces; but when they are sad, [by looking at their faces we can see that] they are sad.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant.
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 Those who are oppressed constantly have difficulties, but those who (OR, if they) are happy, [it is as though] [MET] they are having a big feast every day.
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
17 Eating meals with [people whom you] love and having only vegetables to eat is better than eating with [people who] hate [each other and] having lots of good meat [to eat].
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 Those who quickly become angry cause arguments/quarreling, but those who do not quickly become angry cause people to act peacefully.
A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 Lazy people constantly [have difficulties] [MET]; [it is as though they are] walking through thorns; but those who are honest and hard-working [will have few difficulties; it is as though they are walking] on a level highway [MET].
The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 Children who are wise cause their parents to be happy; it is foolish children who despise their parents.
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 If there is no one to give us good advice, we will not accomplish what we are planning to do; but when we have many [good] advisors, we will succeed.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 People rejoice when they are able to reply well to what others have asked them; [truly], it is very delightful to be able to say the right thing at the right time.
Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
24 Wise people walk on a road that leads up to a long life; they do not walk on a road that leads down to the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol (Sheol h7585).
25 Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows.
The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
26 Yahweh detests what wicked [people] are thinking [about doing]; [but] when people say what is kind, he considers those words to be pure.
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 Those who try hard to get money by acting dishonestly cause trouble for their family; those who refuse to accept bribes will live [for a long time].
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil.
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray.
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 If people have a smile on their faces, it makes them/others happy, and [when people hear] good news, it refreshes their spirits [MTY].
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become wise.
The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
32 If people refuse to listen [when others try] to correct them, they are despising/hurting themselves; those who (pay attention/heed) when [others] warn them (become wiser/acquire good sense).
He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.
The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
