Proverbs 15

Chapter 15

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

¹A ^agentle answer turns away wrath,

But a ^1bharsh word stirs up anger.

²The ^atongue of the wise makes knowledge ¹acceptable,

But the ^bmouth of fools spouts folly.

³The ^aeyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.

⁴A ¹soothing tongue is a tree of life,

But perversion in it ²crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool ¹rejects his father’s discipline,

But he who regards reproof is sensible.

⁶Great wealth is in the house of the ^arighteous,

But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

But the hearts of fools are not so.

⁸The ^asacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

But ^bthe prayer of the upright is His delight.

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

But He loves one who ^apursues righteousness.

¹⁰Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;

He who hates reproof will die.

^111aSheol and ²Abaddon lie open before the Lord,

How much more the ^bhearts of ³men!

¹²A ^ascoffer does not love one who reproves him,

He will not go to the wise.

¹³A ^ajoyful heart makes a ¹cheerful face,

But ²when the heart is ^bsad, the ^cspirit is broken.

¹⁴The ^amind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are bad,

But a ¹cheerful heart has a continual feast.

^16aBetter is a little with the ¹fear of the Lord

Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

^17aBetter is a ¹dish of ²vegetables where love is

Than a ^bfattened ox served with hatred.

¹⁸A ^ahot-tempered man stirs up strife,

But the ^bslow to anger ^ccalms a dispute.

¹⁹The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,

But the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A ^awise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man ^bdespises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to him who lacks ¹sense,

But a man of understanding ^awalks straight.

²²Without consultation, plans are frustrated,

But with many counselors they ¹succeed.

²³A ^aman has joy in an ¹apt answer,

And how delightful is a timely ^bword!

²⁴The ^apath of life leads upward for the wise

That he may keep away from ¹Sheol below.

²⁵The Lord will ^atear down the house of the proud,

But He will ^bestablish the boundary of the ^cwidow.

²⁶Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

But pleasant words are pure.

²⁷He who ^aprofits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who ^bhates bribes will live.

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

But the ^bmouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹The Lord is ^afar from the wicked,

But He ^bhears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰¹Bright eyes gladden the heart;

Good news puts fat on the bones.

³¹He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof

Will dwell among the wise.

³²He who ^aneglects discipline ^bdespises himself,

But he who ^clistens to reproof acquires ¹understanding.

³³The ¹fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.