Proverbs 15

15A gentle answer^r turns away wrath,^s

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^t

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^u

³The eyes^v of the Lord are everywhere,^w

keeping watch on the wicked and the good.^x

⁴The soothing tongue^y is a tree of life,^z

but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.^a

⁵A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,

but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.^b

⁶The house of the righteous contains great treasure,^c

but the income of the wicked brings ruin.^d

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge,^e

but the hearts of fools are not upright.

⁸The Lord detests the sacrifice^f of the wicked,^g

but the prayer of the upright pleases him.^h

⁹The Lord detests the way of the wicked,ⁱ

but he loves those who pursue righteousness.^j

¹⁰Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;

the one who hates correction will die.^k

¹¹Death and Destruction^a lie open before the Lord^l—

how much more do human hearts!^m

¹²Mockers resent correction,ⁿ

so they avoid the wise.

¹³A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^o

but heartache crushes the spirit.^p

¹⁴The discerning heart seeks knowledge,^q

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the oppressed are wretched,

but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.^r

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the Lord

than great wealth with turmoil.^s

¹⁷Better a small serving of vegetables with love

than a fattened calf with hatred.^t

¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^u

but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.^v

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,^w

but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son brings joy to his father,^x

but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,^y

but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²²Plans fail for lack of counsel,^z

but with many advisers^a they succeed.^b

²³A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^c—

and how good is a timely word!^d

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the prudent

to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud,^e

but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.^f

²⁶The Lord detests the thoughts^g of the wicked,^h

but gracious words are pureⁱ in his sight.

²⁷The greedy bring ruin to their households,

but the one who hates bribes will live.^j

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,^k

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.^l

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.^m

³⁰Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.ⁿ

³¹Whoever heeds life-giving correction

will be at home among the wise.^o

³²Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,^p

but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.^q

³³Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,^r

and humility comes before honor.^s