< 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. 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. 3 Yahweh sees [MTY] [what is happening] everywhere; he observes what bad [people do] as well as what good [people do]. 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). 5 Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them; wise children accept it. 6 There are many valuable things in the houses of righteous [people]; the wealth of wicked [people] causes them to have troubles/difficulties. 7 What wise [people] teach [MTY] causes others to know much more, [but] foolish people cannot teach others what is useful. 8 Yahweh detests the sacrifices that are offered by wicked [people]; what delights/pleases him very much are the prayers of righteous/good [people]. 9 Yahweh hates/detests the behavior of wicked [people], but he loves those who always do what is righteous/just/fair. 10 Those who do what is wrong will be severely punished; those who do not want to be corrected will 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) 12 Some people do not want to be corrected; they never go to wise [people to seek good advice from them]. 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. 14 Those who have good sense want to learn more; foolish people [MTY] are very satisfied with being foolish/ignorant. 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. 16 Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles. 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]. 18 Those who quickly become angry cause arguments/quarreling, but those who do not quickly become angry cause people to act peacefully. 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]. 20 Children who are wise cause their parents to be happy; it is foolish children who despise their parents. 21 Foolish people are happy to [continually] act foolishly; those who have good sense do what is right. 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. 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. 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) 25 Yahweh tears down the houses of proud [people], but he protects the property of widows. 26 Yahweh detests what wicked [people] are thinking [about doing]; [but] when people say what is kind, he considers those words to be pure. 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]. 28 Righteous/Good [people] think carefully before they answer [what others ask them]; wicked [people] very quickly say what is evil. 29 Yahweh does not listen [MTY] to what wicked [people request him to do]; he listens to righteous [people] when they pray. 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]. 31 If people pay attention when [people] correct/warn them, they will become 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). 33 If you revere Yahweh, you will learn how to become wise, but [only] after you become humble will [people] honor you.

< Proverbs 15 >