Proverbs 15

1A soft answer will turn away wrath,
but a word of trouble will stir ⌞anger⌟.
Literally “nostril”

2The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.
3In every place, the eyes of Yahweh
keep watch over the evil and the good.
4Gentleness
Or “Healing”
of tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it
That is, the tongue
causes a break in spirit.
5A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
but he who guards reproof is prudent.
6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
but the heart
Or “mind”
of fools, not so.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of Yahweh,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9An abomination of Yahweh is the way of the wicked,
but he who pursues righteousness he will love.
10Severe discipline belongs to him who forsakes the way;
he who hates a rebuke will die.
11Sheol
A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
and Abaddon
Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the ot in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.
are before Yahweh,
⌞how much more⌟
Literally “more for”
the hearts of the children of men!
12A scoffer does not like ⌞his rebuke⌟;
Literally “rebuke belonging to him”

to the wise he will not go.
13A heart
Or “mind”
of gladness will make good ⌞countenance⌟,
Literally “faces”

but in sorrow of heart
Or “mind”
a spirit is broken.
14The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge,
but the faces of fools, they
Hebrew “he/it”
will feed on folly.
15All the days of the poor are hard,
but goodness of heart
Or “mind”
is a continuous feast.
16Better is little with the fear of Yahweh
than great treasure and trouble with it.
Or “him”

17Better is a dinner of vegetables when
Hebrew “and”
love is there
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Or “him”

18A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife,
but he who is slow to ⌞anger⌟,
Literally “nostrils”
he will calm contention.
19The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,
Hebrew “thorn”

but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
but a ⌞foolish person⌟,
Literally “foolishness of humankind”
he despises his mother.
21Folly is a joy to him who lacks ⌞sense⌟,
Literally “heart”

and a person of understanding ⌞will walk upright⌟.
Literally “he will walk upright walking”

22Plans go wrong when there is no counsel,
but with many advisors it will succeed.
23Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth,
and a word in its time, how good it is!
24The path of life leads upward for him who has insight,
in order to turn away from Sheol below.
25The house of the proud, Yahweh will tear it down,
but he will maintain the ⌞property line⌟
Literally “boundary”
of the widow.
26Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh,
but gracious words are pure.
27He who makes trouble for his house is he who is greedy for unjust gain,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28A heart
Or “mind”
of righteousness will ponder the answer,
but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.
29Yahweh is far from the wicked,
but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
30From the light of the eyes, the heart
Or “mind”
will rejoice,
and good news will enliven the bones.
Hebrew “bone”

31The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life,
in the midst of the wise it will lodge.
32He who ignores instruction despises himself,
Or “soul,” or “inner self”

but he who hears admonition gains heart.
Or “mind”

33Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise,
and before honor comes humility.
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