Proverbs 15-16

New American Standard Bible 1995

15 A ^(A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a ^[a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.
² The ^(C)tongue of the wise makes knowledge ^[b]acceptable,
But the ^(D)mouth of fools spouts folly.
³ The ^(E)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
⁴ A ^[c]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it ^[d]crushes the spirit.
⁵ A fool ^[e]rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.
⁶ Great wealth is in the house of the ^(F)righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
⁸ The ^(G)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But ^(H)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves one who ^(I)pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
^11 [f](J)Sheol and ^[g]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the ^(K)hearts of ^[h]men!
¹² A ^(L)scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
¹³ A ^(M)joyful heart makes a ^[i]cheerful face,
But ^[j]when the heart is ^(N)sad, the ^(O)spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The ^(P)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a ^[k]cheerful heart has a continual feast.
^16 (Q)Better is a little with the ^[l]fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
^17 (R)Better is a ^[m]dish of ^[n]vegetables where love is
Than a ^(S)fattened ox served with hatred.
¹⁸ A ^(T)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the ^(U)slow to anger ^(V)calms a dispute.
¹⁹ The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A ^(W)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man ^(X)despises his mother.
²¹ Folly is joy to him who lacks ^[o]sense,
But a man of understanding ^(Y)walks straight.
²² Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they ^[p]succeed.
²³ A ^(Z)man has joy in an ^[q]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely ^(AA)word!
²⁴ The ^(AB)path of life leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from ^[r]Sheol below.
²⁵ The Lord will ^(AC)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will ^(AD)establish the boundary of the ^(AE)widow.
²⁶ Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
²⁷ He who ^(AF)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who ^(AG)hates bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(AH)ponders how to answer,
But the ^(AI)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is ^(AJ)far from the wicked,
But He ^(AK)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 [s]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.
³¹ He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
³² He who ^(AL)neglects discipline ^(AM)despises himself,
But he who ^(AN)listens to reproof acquires ^[t]understanding.
³³ The ^[u]fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

16 The ^(AO)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
² All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the ^(AP)Lord weighs the ^[v]motives.
^3 [w](AQ)Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
⁴ The Lord ^(AR)has made everything for ^[x]its own purpose,
Even the ^(AS)wicked for the day of evil.
⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
⁶ By ^(AT)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the ^[y](AU)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
⁷ When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He ^(AV)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
⁹ The mind of ^(AW)man plans his way,
But ^(AX)the Lord directs his steps.
¹⁰ A divine ^(AY)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not ^[z]err in judgment.
¹¹ A ^(AZ)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the ^[aa]weights of the bag are His ^[ab]concern.
¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a ^(BA)throne is established on righteousness.
¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
¹⁴ The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.
¹⁵ In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the ^[ac](BB)spring rain.
¹⁶ How much ^(BC)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
¹⁷ The ^(BD)highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his ^[ad]life.
^18 (BE)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
¹⁹ It is better to be ^(BF)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to ^(BG)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ He who gives attention to the word will ^(BH)find good,
And ^(BI)blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The ^(BJ)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of ^[ae]speech ^(BK)increases ^[af]persuasiveness.
²² Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
²³ The ^(BL)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds ^[ag]persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (BM)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and ^(BN)healing to the bones.
^25 (BO)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his ^[ah]hunger urges him on.
²⁷ A ^(BP)worthless man digs up evil,
While ^[ai]his words are like ^(BQ)scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(BR)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ A ^(BS)gray head is a crown of glory;
It ^(BT)is found in the way of righteousness.
³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
³³ The ^(BU)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every ^(BV)decision is from the Lord.