Proverbs 15

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

² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good,
but the mouth of fools pours out folly.

³ The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
watching the evil and the good.

⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

⁶ The house of the righteous holds great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

¹⁰ Discipline is grievous to whoever forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.

¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!

¹² A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.

¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

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

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

¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure and turmoil with it.

¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox with hatred.

¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but the slow to anger quiets contention.

¹⁹ The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.

²⁰ A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹ Folly is joy to one who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

²² Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.

²³ To make a fitting answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season — how good it is!

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol below.

²⁵ The LORD tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow's boundaries.

²⁶ Evil schemes are an abomination to the LORD,
but gracious words are pure.

²⁷ Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his household,
but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²⁹ The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.

³¹ The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.

³² Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains understanding.

³³ The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.