15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a ①harsh word stirs up anger.
▷ ①Lit painful
15:2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
15:4 A ①soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it ②crushes the spirit.
▷ ①Lit healing ②Lit is the crushing of the spirit
15:5 A fool ①rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
▷ ①Or despises
15:6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
15:10 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
One who hates a rebuke will die.
15:11 ①Sheol and ②Abaddon lie open before the LORD,
How much more the hearts of ③mankind!
▷ ①I.e., The netherworld ②I.e., place of destruction ③Lit sons of mankind
15:12 A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
He will not go to the wise.
15:13 A joyful heart makes a ①cheerful face,
But ②when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
▷ ①Lit good ②Lit in sadness of heart
15:14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15:15 All the days of the ①needy are bad,
But a ②cheerful heart has a continual feast.
▷ ①Or wretched ②Lit good
15:16 Better is a little with ①the fear of the LORD
Than great treasure, and turmoil with ②the treasure.
▷ ①Or reverence for ②Lit it
15:17 Better is a portion of ①vegetables where there is love,
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
▷ ①Or herbs
15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
15:19 The way of the ①lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
▷ ①Lit idle
15:20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
15:21 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks ①sense,
But a person of understanding walks straight.
▷ ①Lit heart
15:22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they ①succeed.
▷ ①Or are established
15:23 A person has joy in an ①apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!
▷ ①Lit answer of his mouth
15:24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from ①Sheol below.
▷ ①I.e., the netherworld
15:25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will set the boundary of the widow.
15:26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,
But pleasant words are pure.
15:27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
15:30 ①Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news ②refreshes the bones.
▷ ①Lit The light of the eyes gladdens ②Lit makes fat
15:31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
15:32 One who neglects discipline rejects himself,
But one who listens to a rebuke acquires ①understanding.
▷ ①Lit heart
15:33 ①The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
▷ ①Or Reverence for