Proverbs 15

15A ^asoft answer turns away wrath,

But ^ba harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

^cBut the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

^3dThe eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

⁴A ¹wholesome tongue is a tree of life,

But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

^5eA fool despises his father’s instruction,

^fBut he who ²receives correction is prudent.

⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise ³disperse knowledge,

But the heart of the fool does not do so.

^8gThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

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

But He loves him who ^hfollows righteousness.

¹⁰ⁱHarsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,

And ^jhe who hates correction will die.

^11kHell ⁴and ⁵Destruction are before the Lord;

So how much more ^lthe hearts of the sons of men.

^12mA scoffer does not love one who corrects him,

Nor will he go to the wise.

¹³ⁿA merry heart makes a cheerful ⁶countenance,

But ^oby sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

¹⁴The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,

^pBut he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

^16qBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord,

Than great treasure with trouble.

^17rBetter is a dinner of ⁷herbs where love is,

Than a fatted calf with hatred.

^18sA wrathful man stirs up strife,

But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

^19tThe way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,

But the way of the upright is a highway.

^20uA wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.

^21vFolly is joy to him who is destitute of ⁸discernment,

^wBut a man of understanding walks uprightly.

^22xWithout counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

²³A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

And ^ya word spoken ⁹in due season, how good it is!

^24zThe way of life winds upward for the wise,

That he may ^aturn away from ¹hell below.

^25bThe Lord will destroy the house of the proud,

But ^cHe will establish the boundary of the widow.

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

^eBut the words of the pure are pleasant.

^27fHe who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

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

But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

^29hThe Lord is far from the wicked,

But ⁱHe hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

And a good report makes the bones ²healthy.

³¹The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise.

³²He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

^33jThe fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,

And ^kbefore honor is humility.