Proverbs 15

A soft answer turns away wrath

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.a ²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly. ³The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.b

⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.c ⁵A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent. ⁶The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.d

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools. ⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.e ⁹The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.f ¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD— how much more the hearts of men!g ¹²A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.

¹³A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.h ¹⁴A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. ¹⁵All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.i

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.j ¹⁷Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.k ¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.l

¹⁹The way of the slacker is like a hedge of 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 is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

²²Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.m ²³A man takes joy in a fitting reply— and how good is a timely word!n ²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol.o

²⁵The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow. ²⁶The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him. ²⁷He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.p ²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.q ³⁰The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.

³¹He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.r ³²He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. ³³The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.s