Proverbs 15
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
← Proverbs 14 · Proverbs: all chapters · Proverbs 16 →
15:1Anger destroys even intelligent people;
but a yielding answer turns away wrath,
and a painful word raises angers.
15:2The tongue of the wise knows good things,
but the mouth of fools will announce evil things.
15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place;
they observe both evil people and good people.
15:4Healing of a tongue is a tree of life,
but one who keeps watch over it will be filled with spirit.
15:5A fool sneers at a father’s discipline,
but one who keeps commands is more resourceful.
15:6In abundant righteousness is great strength,
but the impious will perish from the earth, roots and all.
In the houses of the righteous is great strength,
but the fruits of the impious will perish.
15:7The lips of the wise are bound to discernment,
but the hearts of fools are not secure.
15:8The sacrifices of the impious are an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayers of those going straight are acceptable to Him.
15:9The ways of the impious are an abomination to the Lord,
but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
15:10The discipline of an innocent person is recognized by passersby,
but those who hate rebukes die shamefully.
15:11Hades and destruction are manifest before the Lord;
how are human hearts not also?
15:12An uneducated person will not love those who reprove him,
and he will not associate with the wise.
15:13When the heart rejoices, the face flourishes,
but when it is in sorrows, the face grows gloomy.
15:14An upright heart seeks discernment,
but the mouth of the uneducated will know evil things.
15:15All the time the eyes of evil people expect evils,
but good people rest quietly continually.
15:16Better a small portion with the fear of the Lord
than great storehouses with fearlessness.
15:17Better hospitality of vegetables with friendship and favor
than a serving of calves with enmity.
15:18An irascible man prepares battles,
but a patient person calms even the one about to arise.
15:18aA patient man will extinguish disputes,
but the impious stirs them up still more.
15:19The ways of the idle are strewn with thorns,
but those of the courageous are well worn.
15:20A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
15:21The paths of a senseless person lack understanding,
but an intelligent man walks making his course straight.
15:22Those who do not honor councils put plans off,
but counsel remains in the hearts of those who deliberate.
15:23The evil person will certainly not heed it,
nor say anything timely and good for the community.
15:24The thoughts of an understanding person are ways of life,
so that, turning aside from Hades, he may be saved.
15:25The Lord pulls down the houses of the insolent,
but He established the boundary of a widow.
15:26An unjust thought is an abomination to the Lord,
but the sayings of pure people are noble.
15:27One who takes bribes destroys himself,
but one who hates taking gifts is saved.
15:27aBy acts of mercy and faithfulness sins are thoroughly cleansed,
and by the fear of the Lord everyone turns from evil.
15:28The hearts of the righteous meditate on faithful things,
but the mouth of the impious answers evil things.
15:28aThe ways of righteous men are acceptable to the Lord,
and through them even enemies become friends.
15:29God is far distant from the impious,
but He listens to the prayers of the righteous.
15:29aBetter a small receipt with righteousness
than much produce with injustice.
15:29bLet a man’s heart consider righteous things,
so that his steps may be set right by God.
15:30An eye looking at good things gladdens the heart,
and a good report makes bones full.
15:32One who thrusts discipline away hates himself,
but one who keeps rebukes loves his own life.
15:33The fear of God is discipline and wisdom,
and the beginning of glory will answer her.
← Proverbs 14 · Proverbs: all chapters · Proverbs 16 →
Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.