Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.
The tongue of wise people compliments knowledge, but the mouth of fools pours out folly.
3 In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.
The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere, keeping watch over the evil and the good.
4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit.
A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.
A fool has contempt for his father's instruction, but he who learns from correction is prudent.
6 [In] the house of the righteous [is] abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked — trouble.
In the house of the righteous person there is great treasure, but the earnings of the wicked person give him trouble.
7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right.
The lips of wise people scatter knowledge about, but not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
Yahweh hates the sacrifices of wicked people, but the prayer of upright people is his delight.
9 An abomination to Jehovah [is] the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.
Yahweh hates the way of wicked people, but he loves the one who pursues what is right.
10 Chastisement [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.
Harsh discipline awaits anyone who forsakes the way and he who hates correction will die.
11 Sheol and destruction [are] before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and destruction are open before Yahweh; how much more the hearts of the sons of mankind? (Sheol h7585)
12 A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.
The mocker resents correction; he will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.
A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14 The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.
The heart of the discerning seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
All the days of oppressed people are miserable, but a cheerful heart has an unending feast.
16 Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure with confusion.
17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
Better is a meal with vegetables where there is love than a fatted calf served with hatred.
18 A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.
An angry man stirs up arguments, but a person who is slow to anger quiets a quarrel.
19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
The path of the sluggard is like a place with a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a built-up highway.
20 A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going.
Folly delights a person who lacks sense, but the one who has understanding walks a straight path.
22 Without counsel [is] the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.
Plans go wrong where there is no advice, but with numerous advisors they succeed.
23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season — how good!
A person finds joy when he gives a pertinent reply; how good is a timely word!
The path of life leads upward for prudent people, that they may turn away from Sheol beneath. (Sheol h7585)
25 The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.
Yahweh tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of the widow.
26 An abomination to Jehovah [are] thoughts of wickedness, And pure [are] sayings of pleasantness.
Yahweh hates the thoughts of wicked people, but the words of kindness are pure.
27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.
The robber brings trouble to his family, but the one who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.
The heart of the righteous person ponders before it answers, but the mouth of wicked people pours out all its evil.
29 Far [is] Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.
Yahweh is far away from wicked people, but he hears the prayer of righteous people.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.
The light of the eyes brings joy to the heart and good news is health to the body.
31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.
If you pay attention when someone corrects how you live, you will remain among wise people.
32 Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.
The one who rejects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to correction gains understanding.
33 The fear of Jehovah [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honour [is] humility!
The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom and humility comes before honor.
