Proverbs 15

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,

But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.

³The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.

⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life,[#15:4 Lit healing]

But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool rejects his father’s discipline,[#15:5 Or despises]

But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.

⁶Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,

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 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 the one who pursues righteousness.

¹⁰There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;

One who hates a rebuke will die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord ,[#15:11 I.e., The netherworld; #15:11 I.e., place of destruction]

How much more the hearts of mankind!

¹²A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;

He will not go to the wise.

¹³A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,[#15:13 Lit good]

But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

¹⁴The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

¹⁵All the days of the needy are bad,[#15:15 Or wretched]

But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of the Lord[#15:16 Or reverence for]

Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.

¹⁷Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love,[#15:17 Or herbs]

Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

¹⁹The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,[#15:19 Lit idle]

But the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense,[#15:21 Lit heart]

But a person of understanding walks straight.

²²Without consultation, plans are frustrated,

But with many counselors they succeed.

²³A person has joy in an apt answer,[#15:23 Lit answer of his mouth]

And how delightful is a timely word!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise,

So that he may keep away from Sheol below.

²⁵The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,

But He will set the boundary of the widow.

²⁶Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord ,

But pleasant words are pure.

²⁷He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart 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.

³⁰Bright eyes gladden the heart;[#15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens]

Good news refreshes the bones.

³¹One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke

Will stay among the wise.

³²One who neglects discipline rejects himself,

But one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding.

³³The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,[#15:33 Or Reverence for]

And before honor comes humility.