Chapter 15

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of fools gushes folly.

³The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.

⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool scorns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

⁶The house of the righteous holds great wealth, but trouble haunts the income of the wicked.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him.

⁹The Lord abhors the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰Stern discipline awaits those who forsake the path; whoever hates reproof will die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord—how much more the hearts of people!

¹²A mocker does not love reproof, nor will they seek the wise.

¹³A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit.

¹⁴The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

¹⁷Better a meal of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but the patient calms disputes.

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a clear highway.

²⁰A wise child brings joy to a parent, but a fool despises their mother.

²¹Folly delights the senseless, but the discerning walk uprightly.

²²Plans fail without counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.

²³A person finds joy in a fitting reply, and a timely word—how good it is!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the prudent, to avoid Sheol below.

²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but He preserves the widow’s boundary.

²⁶Evil plans are detestable to the Lord, but gracious words are pure to Him.

²⁷The greedy stir up trouble for their household, but those who hate bribes will live.

²⁸The righteous heart ponders before answering, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes gladdens the heart, and good news strengthens the bones.

³¹An ear that heeds life-giving reproof dwells among the wise.

³²Whoever ignores discipline despises themselves, but whoever heeds reproof gains understanding.

³³The fear of the Lord is the discipline of wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 16 The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 16 – VKJV