Proverbs 15:1-33

  • A mild answer turns away rage (1)

  • Jehovah’s eyes are everywhere (3)

  • Upright one’s prayer pleases God (8)

  • Plans fail without consultation (22)

  • Meditate before answering (28)

15  A mild* answer turns away rage,+But a harsh* word stirs up anger.+   The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge,+But the mouth of the stupid blurts out foolishness.   The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere,Watching both the bad and the good.+   A calm tongue* is a tree of life,+But twisted speech causes despair.*   A fool disrespects his father’s discipline,+But a shrewd person accepts correction.*+   In the house of the righteous one there is abundant treasure,But the produce* of the wicked one brings him trouble.+   The lips of the wise spread knowledge,+But not so the heart of the stupid one.+   The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to Jehovah,+But the prayer of the upright is a pleasure to Him.+   Jehovah detests the way of the wicked one,+But he loves the one who pursues righteousness.+ 10  Discipline seems bad* to one forsaking the way,+But whoever hates reproof will die.+ 11  The Grave* and the place of destruction* are in full view of Jehovah.+ How much more so the hearts of men!+ 12  The scoffer does not love the one correcting* him.+ He will not consult the wise.+ 13  A joyful heart makes for a cheerful countenance,But heartache crushes the spirit.+ 14  The understanding heart seeks knowledge,+But the mouth of the stupid feeds on* foolishness.+ 15  All the days of the afflicted one are bad,+But the one with a cheerful* heart has a continual feast.+ 16  Better is a little in the fear of Jehovah+Than great wealth along with anxiety.*+ 17  Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love+Than a fattened* bull where there is hatred.+ 18  A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,+But one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.+ 19  The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,+But the path of the upright is like a level highway.+ 20  A wise son makes his father rejoice,+But a stupid man despises his mother.+ 21  Foolishness is a joy to one lacking good sense,*+But the man of discernment walks straight ahead.+ 22  Plans fail when there is no consultation,*But there is accomplishment through many advisers.*+ 23  A man rejoices in giving the right answer,*+And a word spoken at the right time—how good it is!+ 24  The path of life leads upward to one with insight,+To turn him away from the Grave* below.+ 25  Jehovah will tear down the house of the haughty,+But he will preserve the boundary of the widow.+ 26  Jehovah detests the schemes of the wicked one,+But pleasant sayings are pure to Him.+ 27  The one making dishonest profit brings trouble* on his own household,+But the one hating bribes will keep living.+ 28  The heart of the righteous one meditates before answering,*+But the mouth of the wicked blurts out bad things. 29  Jehovah is far away from the wicked,But he hears the prayer of the righteous.+ 30  Bright eyes make* the heart rejoice;A good report invigorates the bones.*+ 31  The one who listens to life-giving reproofIs at home among the wise.+ 32  Anyone refusing discipline despises his life,*+But whoever listens to reproof acquires understanding.*+ 33  The fear of Jehovah is a training in wisdom,+And before glory there is humility.+

Footnotes

Or “gentle.”
Or “painful.”
Or “A tongue of healing.”
Lit., “the crushing of the spirit.”
Or “reproof.”
Or “income.”
Or “severe.”
Or “Sheol,” that is, the common grave of mankind. See Glossary.
Or “and Abaddon.”
Or “reproving.”
Or “pursues.”
Or “good.”
Or “confusion.”
Lit., “manger-fed.”
Lit., “in want of heart.”
Or “confidential talk.”
Or “counselors.”
Lit., “in the answer of his mouth.”
Or “Sheol,” that is, the common grave of mankind. See Glossary.
Or “disgrace.”
Or “carefully considers how to answer; thinks before speaking.”
Lit., “makes the bones fat.”
Or “A cheerful glance makes.”
Or “soul.”
Lit., “heart.”