CHAPTER 15

                ¹A soft answer turns back wrath,

                    but a hurtful word stirs anger.

                ²The tongue of the wise improves knowledge,

                    but the mouth of dullards bubbles with folly.

                ³The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,

                    watching the evil and the good.

                ⁴Healing speech is a tree of life,

                    but perverse speech breaks the spirit.

                ⁵A dolt will spurn his father’s reproof,

                    but who heeds rebuke gains shrewdness.

                ⁶Great treasure is in the righteous man’s house,

                    but the yield of the wicked is blighted.

                ⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge—

                    not so, the heart of fools.

                ⁸The wicked’s sacrifice is the LORD’s loathing,

                    but the prayer of the upright, His pleasure.

                ⁹The LORD’s loathing is the way of the wicked man,

                    but He loves the pursuer of righteousness.

                ¹⁰Harsh reproof for him who forsakes the path,

                    who hates rebuke will die.

                ¹¹Sheol and Perdition are before the LORD,

                    how much more so the hearts of men.

                ¹²A scoffer does not love it when one rebukes him,

                    to the wise he will not go.

                ¹³A glad heart will brighten the face,

                    but by the heart’s pain the spirit is lamed.

                ¹⁴A discerning heart seeks knowledge,

                    but the mouth of dullards chases folly.

                ¹⁵All the days of the poor man are miserable,

                    but a cheerful man has a perpetual feast.

                ¹⁶Better a pittance in the fear of the LORD

                    than great treasure with turmoil.

                ¹⁷Better a meal of greens where there is love

                    than a fatted ox where there is hatred.

                ¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

                    but a patient man quiets quarrel.

                ¹⁹The sluggard’s way is like a hedge of thorns,

                    but the path of the upright is smooth.

                ²⁰A wise son gladdens his father,

                    but a foolish man scorns his mother.

                ²¹Folly is joy to the senseless,

                    but a man of discernment walks straight.

                ²²Plans are thwarted where there is no counsel,

                    but with many advisors they are carried out.

                ²³There is joy for a man in an apt answer,

                    and how good is a timely word!

                ²⁴A path of life upward for the man of insight,

                    that he may swerve from Sheol below.

                ²⁵The house of the proud will the LORD uproot,

                    but He sets firm the widow’s boundary stone.

                ²⁶An evil man’s plots are the LORD’s loathing,

                    but the sayings of the pure are sweet.

                ²⁷He blights his house whose gain is ill gotten,

                    but the hater of bribes shall live.

                ²⁸The righteous man’s heart utters truth,

                    but the mouth of the wicked bubbles with evils.

                ²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked,

                    but the prayer of the righteous He hears.

                ³⁰What brightens the eyes gladdens the heart,

                    and good news puts sap in the bones.

                ³¹An ear hearing rebuke for life

                    in the midst of the wise will abide.

                ³²Who casts off reproof despises himself,

                    but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

                ³³The LORD’s fear is wisdom’s foundation,

                    and humility comes before honor.