Proverbs 15

1  a A soft answer turns away wrath,
but b a harsh word stirs up anger.
 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but c the mouths of fools pour out folly.
 3  d The eyes of the  Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
 4  e A gentle ▼
▼ Or healing
 tongue is g a tree of life,
but h perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
 5  i A fool j despises his father’s instruction,
but k whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
 7  l The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
m not so the hearts of fools. ▼
▼ Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast

 8  o The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the  Lord,
but p the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the  Lord,
but he loves him q who pursues righteousness.
 10 There is r severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
s whoever hates reproof will die.
 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the  Lord;
how much more t the hearts of the children of man!
 12  u A scoffer v does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
 13  w A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by x sorrow of heart the spirit is y crushed.
 14  z The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but aa the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
 16  ab Better is a little with the fear of the  Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
 17  ac Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than ad a fattened ox and hatred with it.
 18  ae A hot-tempered man af stirs up strife,
but he who is ag slow to anger quiets contention.
 19 The way of ah a sluggard is like a hedge of ai thorns,
but the path of the upright is aj a level highway.
 20  ak A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
 21  al Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding am walks straight ahead.
 22  an Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
 23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and ao a word in season, how good it is!
 24 The path of life leads upward ap for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
 25 The  Lord tears down the house of aq the proud
but ar maintains as the widow’s boundaries.
 26  at The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the  Lord,
but au gracious words are pure.
 27 Whoever is av greedy for unjust gain aw troubles his own household,
but he who hates ax bribes will live.
 28 The heart of the righteous ay ponders how to answer,
but az the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
 29 The  Lord is ba far from the wicked,
but he bb hears the prayer of the righteous.
 30  bc The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and bd good news refreshes ▼
▼ Hebrew makes fat
 the bones.
 31  bf The ear that listens to bg life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
 32 Whoever bh ignores instruction bi despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof bj gains intelligence.
 33  bk The fear of the  Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and bl humility comes before honor.
Copyright information for ESV