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15 ¶ A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

¶ The tongue of the wise shall adorn wisdom, but the mouth of fools shall speak foolishness.

¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding those who are evil and those who are good.

¶ The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

¶ The fool despises his father’s chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become prudent.

¶ In the house of the righteous is much provision, but in the fruit of the wicked is trouble.

¶ The lips of the wise disperse wisdom, but the heart of the foolish does not so.

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

¶ The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD, but he loves him that follows after righteousness.

10 ¶ Chastening is grievous unto him that forsakes the way, but he that hates reproof shall die.

11 ¶ Sheol and hell are before the LORD; how much more then the hearts of men?

12 ¶ The scorner does not love the one that reproves him, neither will he go unto the wise.

13 ¶ A joyful heart makes a beautiful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is abated.

14 ¶ The heart of him that has understanding seeks wisdom, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 ¶ All the days of the poor are difficult, but he that is of a good heart has a continual feast.

16 ¶ Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted calf and hatred therewith.

18 ¶ A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 ¶ The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous is made plain.

20 ¶ The wise son makes a glad father, but the foolish man despises his mother.

21 ¶ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly.

22 ¶ Without counsel purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 ¶ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

24 ¶ The way of life is uphill to the wise, that he may separate himself from Sheol below.

25 ¶ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but he will establish the inheritance of the widow.

26 ¶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but the speech of the pure is pure.

27 ¶ He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, but he that hates gifts shall live.

28 ¶ The heart of the righteous studies 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 a good report makes the bones fat.

31 ¶ The ear that hears the reproof of life shall abide among the wise.

32 ¶ He that refuses chastening despises his own soul, but he that hears reproof has an understanding heart.

33 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.

15 A gentle answer(A) turns away wrath,(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(D)

The eyes(E) of the Lord are everywhere,(F)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(G)

The soothing tongue(H) is a tree of life,(I)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(J)

A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(K)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(N)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

The Lord detests the sacrifice(O) of the wicked,(P)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(Q)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(R)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(S)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(T)

11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord(U)
    how much more do human hearts!(V)

12 Mockers resent correction,(W)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(X)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(Y)

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(Z)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(AA)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(AB)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(AC)

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(AD)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(AE)

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,(AF)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(AG)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,(AH)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(AI)
    but with many advisers(AJ) they succeed.(AK)

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(AL)
    and how good is a timely word!(AM)

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(AN)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(AO)

26 The Lord detests the thoughts(AP) of the wicked,(AQ)
    but gracious words are pure(AR) in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(AS)

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(AT)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(AU)

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

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(AW)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(AX)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(AY)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(AZ)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(BA)
    and humility comes before honor.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon