Proverbs 15-16

Legacy Standard Bible

15 A ^(A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a ^[a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.
² The ^(C)tongue of the wise makes knowledge look good,
But the ^(D)mouth of ^[b]fools pours forth ^[c]folly.
³ The ^(E)eyes of Yahweh are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
⁴ A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
But perversion in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ An ignorant fool spurns his father’s discipline,
But he who keeps reproof is prudent.
⁶ The house of the ^(F)righteous has much treasure,
But in the income of the wicked there is trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
⁸ The ^(G)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But ^(H)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But He loves one who ^(I)pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ Grievous discipline is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
^11 (J)Sheol and Abaddon lie open before Yahweh,
How much more the ^(K)hearts of the sons of men!
¹² A ^(L)scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
¹³ A ^(M)glad heart makes a face look good,
But ^[d]when the heart is ^(N)pained, the ^(O)spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The ^(P)heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But a good heart has a continual feast.
^16 (Q)Better is a little with the ^[e]fear of Yahweh
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
^17 (R)Better is a ^[f]dish of ^[g]vegetables where there is love
Than a ^(S)fattened ox and hatred in it.
¹⁸ A ^(T)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the ^(U)slow to anger ^(V)quiets a dispute.
¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A ^(W)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man ^(X)despises his mother.
²¹ Folly is gladness to him who lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment ^(Y)walks straight.
²² Without consultation, ^[h]plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they ^[i]succeed.
²³ A ^(Z)man has gladness in an ^[j]apt answer,
And how good is a timely ^(AA)word!
²⁴ The ^(AB)path of life leads upward for the one who has insight
That he may turn away from Sheol below.
²⁵ Yahweh will ^(AC)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will ^(AD)cause the boundary of the ^(AE)widow to stand.
²⁶ Evil thoughts are an abomination to Yahweh,
But pleasant words are pure.
²⁷ He who is ^(AF)greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who ^(AG)hates gifts of bribery will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(AH)ponders how to answer,
But the ^(AI)mouth of the wicked pours forth evil things.
²⁹ Yahweh is ^(AJ)far from the wicked,
But He ^(AK)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 [k]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
A good report puts fat on the bones.
³¹ He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will lodge among the wise.
³² He who ^(AL)neglects discipline ^(AM)despises his soul,
But he who ^(AN)listens to reproof acquires a heart of wisdom.
³³ The ^[l]fear of Yahweh is the discipline ^[m]leading to wisdom,
And before glory comes humility.

16 The ^[n](AO)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
² All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But ^(AP)Yahweh weighs the ^[o]motives.
^3 [p](AQ)Commit your works to Yahweh
And your ^[q]plans will be established.
⁴ Yahweh ^(AR)has made everything for ^[r]its own purpose,
Even the ^(AS)wicked for the day of evil.
⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
⁶ By ^(AT)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the ^[s](AU)fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He ^(AV)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
⁹ The heart of ^(AW)man ^[t]plans his way,
But ^(AX)Yahweh ^[u]directs his steps.
¹⁰ A divine ^(AY)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not ^[v]err in judgment.
¹¹ A ^(AZ)just balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the ^[w]weights of the bag are His ^[x]work.
¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a ^(BA)throne is established.
¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
¹⁴ The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
¹⁵ In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the ^[y](BB)late rain.
¹⁶ How much ^(BC)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
¹⁷ The ^(BD)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his ^[z]soul.
^18 (BE)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
¹⁹ It is better to be ^(BF)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to ^(BG)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ He who considers the word will ^(BH)find good,
And how ^(BI)blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
²¹ The ^(BJ)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of ^[aa]lips ^(BK)increases learning.
²² Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is ^[ab]folly.
²³ The ^(BL)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
^24 (BM)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and ^(BN)healing to the bones.
^25 (BO)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
²⁷ A ^(BP)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like ^(BQ)scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(BR)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (BS)Gray hair is a crown of beauty;
It ^(BT)is found in the way of righteousness.
³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
³³ The ^(BU)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every ^(BV)judgment is from Yahweh.