Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15

New King James Version (NKJV)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

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

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

⁵ A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

⁸ The sacrifice of 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 righteousness.

¹⁰ Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.

¹¹ Hell^[a] and Destruction^[b] are before the Lord;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

¹² A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

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

¹⁴ The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs^[c] where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

¹⁸ A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

¹⁹ The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

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

²¹ Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

²² Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

²³ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

²⁴ The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell^[d] below.

²⁵ The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

²⁷ He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth 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,
And a good report makes the bones healthy.^[e]

³¹ The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
³² He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.