Proverbs 15

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

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge , but the mouths of fools pour out folly .

³The eyes of the Lord are in every place , keeping watch on the evil and the good .

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

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

⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure , but trouble befalls the income of the wicked .

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

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

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

¹⁰There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way ; whoever hates reproof will die .

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

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

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

¹⁴The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge , but the mouths of fools feed on folly .

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

¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

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

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

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

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

²¹Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense , but a man of understanding walks straight ahead .

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

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

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

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries .

²⁶The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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