Proverbs, 15

1. A mild answer turns away wrath, sharp words stir up anger.

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

2. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge welcome, the mouth of a fool spews folly.

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

3. The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere: observing the wicked and the good.

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

4. The tongue that soothes is a tree of life; the perverse tongue, a breaker of hearts.

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

5. Only a fool spurns a father's discipline, whoever accepts correction is discreet.

5. A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who heeds admonition is prudent.

6. In the house of the upright there is no lack of treasure, the earnings of the wicked are fraught with anxiety.

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

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

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

8. The sacrifice of the wicked is abhorrent to Yahweh, dear to him is the prayer of the honest.

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

9. The conduct of the wicked is abhorrent to Yahweh, but he loves the person whose goal is uprightness.

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

10. Correction is severe for one who leaves the way; whoever hates being reprimanded will die.

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

11. Sheol and Perdition lie open to Yahweh; how much more the human heart!

11. Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, how much more the hearts of men!

12. The mocker does not care to be reprimanded, and will not choose the wise as companions.

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

13. Glad heart means happy face, where the heart is sad the spirit is broken.

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

14. The heart of the wise seeks knowledge, a fool's mouth feeds on folly.

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

15. For the poor every day is evil, for the joyous heart it is always festival time.

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

16. Better to have little and with it fear of Yahweh than immense wealth and with it anxiety.

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

17. Better a dish of herbs when love is there than a fattened ox and hatred to go with it.

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

18. The hot-headed provokes disputes, the equable allays dissension.

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

19. The way of the lazy is like a thorny hedge, the path of the honest is a broad highway.

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

20. A wise child is a father's joy; only a brute despises his mother.

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

21. Folly appeals to someone without sense, a person of understanding goes straight forward.

21. Folly is a joy to him who has no sense, but a man of understanding walks aright.

22. Without deliberation plans come to nothing. Plans succeed where counsellors are many.

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

23. Anyone who has a ready answer has joy too: how satisfying is the apt reply!

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

24. For the prudent, the path of life leads upwards thus avoiding Sheol below.

24. The wise man's path leads upward to life, that he may avoid Sheol beneath.

25. Yahweh pulls down the house of the proud, but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.

25. The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26. Wicked scheming is abhorrent to Yahweh, but words that are kind are pure.

26. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, the words of the pure are pleasing to him.

27. Craving for dishonest gain brings trouble on a house, hatred of bribery earns life.

27. He who is greedy for unjust gain makes trouble for his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

28. The heart of the upright reflects before answering, the mouth of the wicked spews out wickedness.

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

29. Yahweh keeps his distance from the wicked, but he listens to the prayers of the upright.

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

30. A kindly glance gives joy to the heart, good news lends strength to the bones.

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

31. The ear attentive to wholesome correction finds itself at home in the company of the wise.

31. He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition will abide among the wise.

32. Whoever rejects correction lacks self-respect, whoever accepts reproof grows in understanding.

32. He who ignores instruction despises himself, but he who heeds admonition gains understanding.

33. The fear of Yahweh is a school of wisdom, before there can be glory, there must be humility.

33. The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.