Proverbs 15

¹ Anger slayeth even wise men;

yet a submissive answer turneth away wrath:

but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

² The tongue of the wise knoweth what is good:

but the mouth of the foolish telleth out evil things.

³ The eyes of the Lord behold

both the evil and the good in every place.

^{4 [1]}The wholesome tongue is a tree of life,

and he that keepeth it shall be filled with ^[2]understanding.

⁵ A fool scorneth his father’s instruction:

but he that keepeth his commandments is more prudent.

In abounding righteousness is great strength:

but the ungodly shall ^[3]utterly perish from the earth.

⁶ In the houses of the righteous is much strength:

but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.

⁷ The lips of the wise are bound by discretion:

but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.

⁸ The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord;

but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.

⁹ The ways of an ungodly man are an abomination to the Lord;

but he loveth those that follow after righteousness.

¹⁰ The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by;

but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.

¹¹ Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord;

how shall not also be the hearts of men?

¹² An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him;

neither will he associate with the wise.

¹³ When the heart rejoiceth the countenance is cheerful;

but when it is in sorrow, the countenance is sad.

¹⁴ An upright heart seeketh discretion;

but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.

¹⁵ The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things;

but the good are always quiet.

¹⁶ Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord,

than great treasures without the fear of the Lord.

¹⁷ Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness,

than a feast of calves, with enmity.

¹⁸ A passionate man stirreth up strife;

but he that is slow to anger appeaseth even a ^[4]rising one.

^18a A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels;

but an ungodly man rather stirreth them up.

¹⁹ The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns;

but those of the diligent are made smooth.

²⁰ A wise son gladdeneth his father;

but a foolish son sneereth at his mother.

²¹ The ways of a foolish man are void of sense;

but a wise man proceedeth on his way aright.

²² They that honour not councils put off deliberation;

but counsel abideth in the hearts of counsellors.

²³ A bad man will by no means ^[5]attend to counsel;

neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common weal.

²⁴ The thoughts of the wise are ways of life,

that he may turn aside and escape from hell.

²⁵ The Lord pulleth down the houses of scorners;

but he establisheth the border of the widow.

²⁶ An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord;

but the sayings of the pure are held in honour.

²⁷ A receiver of bribes destroyeth himself;

but he that hateth the receiving of bribes is safe.

^{27a [6]}By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away;

but by the fear of the Lord every one departeth from evil.

²⁸ The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness;

but the mouth of the ungodly answereth evil things.

^28a The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord;

and through them even enemies become friends.

²⁹ God is far from the ungodly;

but he hearkeneth to the prayers of the righteous.

^29a Better are small receipts with righteousness,

than abundant fruits with unrighteousness.

^29b Let the heart of a man think justly,

that his steps may be rightly ordered of God.

³⁰ The eye that seeth rightly rejoiceth the heart;

and a good report fatteneth the bones.

³² He that rejecteth instruction hateth himself;

but he that mindeth reproofs loveth his soul.

³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom;

and the highest honour will ^[7]correspond therewith. ^[8]The humble advanceth in glory.

Notes

1. 15:4 The wholesome tongue: Gr. the healing of the tongue ↩
2. 15:4 understanding: Gr. spirit ↩
3. 15:5 utterly: Gr. with the roots wholly torn up ↩
4. 15:18 rising: Gr. future ↩
5. 15:23 attend: or, obey ↩
6. 15:27a By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away: Observe, this is not in the Heb. nor any such doctrine. ↩
7. 15:33 correspond therewith: lit. answer it ↩
8. 15:33 The humble advanceth in glory: Vat. omits ↩