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Chapter 15
1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns his father's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The LORD detests the way of the wicked
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
11Death and DestructionHebrew Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—
how much more the hearts of men!
12A mocker resents correction;
he will not consult the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise
to keep him from going down to the grave.Hebrew Sheol
25The LORD tears down the proud man's house
but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.
26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but those of the pure are pleasing to him.
27A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
32He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
33The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,Or Wisdom teaches the fear of the LORD
and humility comes before honor.
Chapter 16
1To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
7When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.
11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
15When a king's face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!
17The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
18Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.Or words make a man persuasive
22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.Or mouth / and makes his lips persuasive
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
26The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.
27A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
30He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.
32Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
Chapter 17
1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting,Hebrew sacrifices with strife.
2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son,
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.
4A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
5He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7ArrogantOr Eloquent lips are unsuited to a fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10A rebuke impresses a man of discernment
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11An evil man is bent only on rebellion;
a merciless official will be sent against him.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.
13If a man pays back evil for good,
evil will never leave his house.
14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the LORD detests them both.
16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,
since he has no desire to get wisdom?
17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor.
19He who loves a quarrel loves sin;
he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21To have a fool for a son brings grief;
there is no joy for the father of a fool.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the course of justice.
24A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.
26It is not good to punish an innocent man,
or to flog officials for their integrity.
27A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.

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