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The Proverbs

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 15 -

The tongue of the wise

1
A soft answer turns back fury, || And a grievous word raises up anger.
2
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge good, || And the mouth of fools utters folly.
3
The eyes of YHWH are in every place, || Watching the evil and the good.
4
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, || And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
5
A fool despises the instruction of his father, || And whoever is regarding reproof is prudent.
6
Abundant strength [is in] the house of the righteous, || And in the increase of the wicked—trouble.
7
The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, || And the heart of fools [is] not right.
8
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, || And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
9
The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to YHWH, || And He loves whoever is pursuing righteousness.
10
Discipline [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, || Whoever is hating reproof dies.
11
Sheol and destruction [are] before YHWH, || Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.
12
A scorner does not love his reprover, || He does not go to the wise.

Reward for a cheerful heart

13
A joyful heart makes the face glad, || And the spirit is struck by grief of heart.
14
The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, || And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
15
All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, || And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet.
16
Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, || Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
17
Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, || Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.
18
A man of fury stirs up contention, || And the slow to anger appeases strife.
19
The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, || And the path of the upright is raised up.
20
A wise son makes a father glad. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

Instruction in wisdom

21
Folly is joy to one lacking heart, || And a man of intelligence directs [his] going.
22
The making void of purposes [is] without counsel, || And in a multitude of counselors it is established.
23
Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, || And a word in its season—how good!
24
A path of life [is] on high for the wise, || To turn aside from Sheol beneath.
25
YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, || And He sets up the border of the widow.
26
Thoughts of wickedness [are] an abomination to YHWH, || And sayings of pleasantness [are] pure.
27
A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, || And whoever is hating gifts lives.
28
The heart of the righteous meditates to answer, || And the mouth of the wicked utters evil things.
29
YHWH [is] far from the wicked, || And He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30
The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, || A good report makes the bone fat.
31
An ear that is hearing the reproof of life || Lodges among the wise.
32
Whoever is refusing instruction is despising his soul, || And whoever is hearing reproof || Is getting understanding.
33
The fear of YHWH [is] the instruction of wisdom, || And humility [is] before honor!
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA

The tongue of the wise

1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
3
The LORD’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.
5
A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
8
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10
There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11
Sheol (a) and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12
A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Reward for a cheerful heart

13
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
17
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
18
A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19
The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Instruction in wisdom

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!
24
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.(b)
25
The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
26
The LORD 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.
28
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
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. Good news gives health to the bones.
31
The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
32
He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33
The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

Footnotes

(a)15:11 Sheol is the place of the dead.
(b)15:24 Sheol is the place of the dead.
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