Proverbs 15

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

³The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,

keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

⁴The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,

but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

⁶The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

but the hearts of fools are not upright.

⁸The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

⁹The Lord detests the way of the wicked,

but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;

the one who hates correction will die.

¹¹Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—

how much more do human hearts!

¹²Mockers resent correction,

so they avoid the wise.

¹³A happy heart makes the face cheerful,

but heartache crushes the spirit.

¹⁴The discerning heart seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the oppressed are wretched,

but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the Lord

than great wealth with turmoil.

¹⁷Better a small serving of vegetables with love

than a fattened calf with hatred.

¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,

but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,

but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²²Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed.

²³A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—

and how good is a timely word!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the prudent

to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud,

but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

²⁶The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,

but gracious words are pure in his sight.

²⁷The greedy bring ruin to their households,

but the one who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

³¹Whoever heeds life-giving correction

will be at home among the wise.

³²Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,

but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

³³Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,

and humility comes before honor.