Proverbs 15

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools gush out folly.

³The LORD’s eyes are everywhere,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool despises his father’s correction,

but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so with the heart of fools.

⁸The sacrifice made by 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 follows after righteousness.

¹⁰There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.

Whoever hates reproof shall die.

¹¹Sheol^* and Abaddon are before the LORD—

how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

¹²A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

¹⁴The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched,

but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

¹⁶Better is little, with the fear of the LORD,

than great treasure with trouble.

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,

than a fattened calf with hatred.

¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention,

but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,

but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

²²Where there is no counsel, plans fail;

but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

²³Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.

How good is a word at the right time!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise,

to keep him from going downward to Sheol.^*

²⁵The LORD will uproot the house of the proud,

but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

²⁶The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,

but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

²⁷He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.

Good news gives health to the bones.

³¹The ear that listens to reproof lives,

and will be at home among the wise.

³²He who refuses correction despises his own soul,

but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

³³The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom.

Before honor is humility.