PROVERBS 15 [†]  d A soft answer turns away wrath,

but  e a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but  f the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3[†]  g The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4[†]  h A gentle [1] tongue is  i a tree of life,

but  j perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5[†]  k A fool  l despises his father’s instruction,

but  m 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[†]  n The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

 n not so the hearts of fools. [2]

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  a the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16[†]  b Better is a little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17  c Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than  d a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18[†]  e A hot-tempered man  f stirs up strife,

but he who is  g slow to anger quiets contention.

19[†] The way of  h a sluggard is like a hedge of  i thorns,

but the path of the upright is  j a level highway.

20[†]  k A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21[†]  l Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding  m walks straight ahead.

22  n Without counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23[†] To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and  o a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward  p for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25[†] The LORD tears down the house of  q the proud

but  r maintains  s the widow’s boundaries.

26  t The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,

but  u gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is  v greedy for unjust gain  w troubles his own household,

but he who hates  x bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous  y ponders how to answer,

but  z the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The LORD is  a far from the wicked,

but he  b hears the prayer of the righteous.

30  c The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and  d good news refreshes [3] the bones.

31  e The ear that listens to  f life-giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

32 Whoever  g ignores instruction  h despises himself,

but he who listens to reproof  i gains intelligence.

33  j The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,

and  k humility comes before honor.