Proverbs 15:15–30

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

¹⁹The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

²⁰A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is a joy to him who has no sense,

but a man of understanding walks aright.

²²Without counsel plans go wrong,

but with many advisers they succeed.

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

and a word in season, how good it is!

²⁴The wise man’s path leads upward to life,

that he may avoid Sheol beneath.

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud,

but maintains the widow’s boundaries.

²⁶The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

the words of the pure are pleasing to him.

²⁷He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household,

but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes the bones.