The chapter opens with one of its major themes: a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, while the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:2
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
3 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A fool spurns a parent's discipline, while the prudent heed correction. The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools do not.
Proverbs 15:5
5 A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
Proverbs 15:6
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
Proverbs 15:7
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked but delights in the prayer of the upright. He detests the way of the wicked but loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path, and the one who hates correction will die. Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD, how much more human hearts.
Proverbs 15:8
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:9
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
Proverbs 15:10
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die.
Proverbs 15:11
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
Mockers resent correction and avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, while heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. The oppressed have days filled with trouble, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:12
12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
Proverbs 15:13
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 15:14
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Proverbs 15:15
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. Better is a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs conflict, but patience calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 15:16
16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:17
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:18
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
Proverbs 15:19
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
A wise son brings joy to his father, while a foolish person despises his mother. Folly delights one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply, and a timely word is good.
Proverbs 15:20
20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Proverbs 15:21
21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
The path of life leads upward for the prudent, keeping them from the realm of the dead below. The LORD tears down the house of the proud but sets the widow's boundary stones in place. The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. The greedy bring ruin to their households, but those who hate bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The LORD is far from the wicked, but hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 15:24
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
Proverbs 15:26
26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:28
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Proverbs 15:29
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom's instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 15:30
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
Proverbs 15:32
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
Proverbs 15:33
33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.