Proverbs 15
1 A mild answer turns away wrath, sharp words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of wise men distils knowledge, the mouth of fools spews folly.
3 The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere: observing the evil and the good.
4 The tongue that soothes is a tree of life; the barbed tongue, a breaker of hearts.
5 He who spurns his father’s discipline is a fool, he who accepts correction is discreet.
6 In the house of the virtuous there is no lack of treasure, the earnings of the wicked are fraught with anxiety.
7 Wise men’s lips keep guard on knowledge, not so the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is abhorrent to Yahweh, dear to him is the prayer of honest men.
9 The conduct of the wicked is abhorrent to Yahweh, but he loves the man who makes virtue his goal.
10 Correction is severe for him who leaves the way; he who hates being reprimanded will die.
11 Sheol and Perdition lie open to Yahweh; how much more the hearts of mankind!
12 The mocker does not care to be reprimanded, he will not choose the wise for his companions.
13 Glad heart means happy face, where the heart is sad the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of the discerning makes knowledge its search, the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 For the sorrowing every day is evil, for the joyous heart it is festival always.
16 Better to have little and with it fear of Yahweh than to have treasure and with it anxiety.
17 Better a dish of herbs when love is there than a fattened ox and hatred to go with it.
18 The hot-headed man provokes disputes, the equable man allays dissension.
19 The way of the lazy is strewn with thorns, the path of the industrious is a broad highway.
20 A wise son is his father’s joy, a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly appeals to a man with no sense, the man of discernment goes straight forward.
22 Without deliberation plans come to nothing, where counsellors are many plans succeed.
23 When a man has a ready answer he has joy too: how satisfying is the apt reply!
24 The upward path to life is for the wise man, that he may avoid Sheol below.
25 Yahweh pulls down the house of the proud, but he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.
26 Wicked scheming is abhorrent to Yahweh, but words that are kind are pure.
27 He who seeks dishonest gain brings trouble on his house, he who hates bribes shall have life.
28 The heart of the virtuous man contemplates kind actions, the mouth of wicked men spews out malice.
29 Yahweh stands far from the wicked, but he listens to the prayers of the virtuous.
30 A kindly glance gives joy to the heart, good news lends strength to the bones.
31 The ear attentive to wholesome correction finds itself at home in the company of the wise.
32 He who rejects discipline despises his own self; he who listens to correction wins discernment.
33 The fear of Yahweh is a school of wisdom, humility goes before honour.
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