Proverbs 15:15–30

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but ^athe cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

^16bBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

^17cBetter is a dinner of herbs where love is

than ^da fattened ox and hatred with it.

^18eA hot-tempered man ^fstirs up strife,

but he who is ^gslow to anger quiets contention.

¹⁹The way of ^ha sluggard is like a hedge of ⁱthorns,

but the path of the upright is ^ja level highway.

^20kA wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

^21lFolly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding ^mwalks straight ahead.

²²ⁿWithout counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and ^oa word in season, how good it is!

²⁴The path of life leads upward ^pfor the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of ^qthe proud

but ^rmaintains ^sthe widow’s boundaries.

^26tThe thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

but ^ugracious words are pure.

²⁷Whoever is ^vgreedy for unjust gain ^wtroubles his own household,

but he who hates ^xbribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous ^yponders how to answer,

but ^zthe mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹The Lord is ^afar from the wicked,

but he ^bhears the prayer of the righteous.

^30cThe light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and ^dgood news refreshes³ the bones.