Bible Browser

15A soft answer turns away wrath,
   but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,^*
   but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
   keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
   but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
   but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
   but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
   not so the minds of fools.
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
   but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
   but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,
   but one who hates a rebuke will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
   how much more human hearts!
¹² Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
   they will not go to the wise.
¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
   but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
   but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the poor are hard,
   but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
   than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
   than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸ Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
   but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
¹⁹ The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
   but the path of the upright is a level highway.
²⁰ A wise child makes a glad father,
   but the foolish despise their mothers.
²¹ Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
   but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
²² Without counsel, plans go wrong,
   but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
   and a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ For the wise the path of life leads upwards,
   in order to avoid Sheol below.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
   but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
   but gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
   but those who hate bribes will live.
²⁸ The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
   but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
   but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
   and good news refreshes the body.
³¹ The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
   will lodge among the wise.
³² Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
   but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
   and humility goes before honour.