Proverbs 15

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.

³The eyes of Adonai are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.

⁴A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful one crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool despises his father’s discipline, but one who accepts reproof is smart.

⁶The house of the righteous has great wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Adonai , but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

⁹Adonai detests the way of the wicked, but loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰Stern correction awaits one who forsakes the way. One who hates reproof will die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon are before Adonai — how much more the hearts of people!

¹²A mocker dislikes one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise.

¹³A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

¹⁴A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is little with the fear of Adonai than great wealth with turmoil.

¹⁷Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened ox where there is hatred.

¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

¹⁹The way of the slacker is a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one who lacks sense, but one with discernment walks straight.

²²Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

²³A person has joy in an appropriate answer— how good is a timely word.

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to Sheol .

²⁵Adonai tears down a proud man’s house, but He maintains the widow’s boundary.

²⁶Evil thoughts are an abomination to Adonai , but pleasant words are pure.

²⁷One greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.

²⁸A righteous heart thinks before answering, but a wicked mouth blurts out evil things.

²⁹Adonai is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰Bright eyes bring joy to the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.

³¹One whose ear heeds a life-giving reproof dwells among the wise.

³²Whoever avoids correction despises himself, but whoever heeds reproof acquires understanding.

³³The fear of Adonai is the discipline of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.