Proverbs 15

¹A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

²The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

³In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.

⁴A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.

⁵A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.

⁶In the house of the righteous is abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools is not right.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright is His delight.

⁹An abomination to Jehovah is the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.

¹⁰Chastisement is grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

¹¹Sheol and destruction are before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.

¹²A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.

¹³A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

¹⁴The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil, And gladness of heart is a perpetual banquet.

¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

¹⁷Better is an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

¹⁸A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

¹⁹The way of the slothful is as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

²⁰A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth his going.

²²Without counsel is the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.

²³Joy is to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season—how good!

²⁴A path of life is on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

²⁵The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.

²⁶An abomination to Jehovah are thoughts of wickedness, And pure are sayings of pleasantness.

²⁷A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

²⁸The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.

²⁹Far is Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.

³¹An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

³²Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.

³³The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, And before honour is humility!

Chapter 16