Proverbs 15

1 A [soft, tender] gentle answer [response to something] turns away [to return, turn back] wrath [intense anger, rage], but a harsh [grievous] word [thing, matter] stirs up [to ascend, rise] anger [face, nose, countenance]. word study 2 The tongue [language, speech, or the tongue that speaks] of the wise [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] commends [presents, or makes attractive] knowledge [understanding, or insight], but the mouth [lip, or the edge of something] of the fool [stupid, silly, or unwise] spouts [pours out, or bubbles forth] folly [foolishness, or silliness]. word study 3 The eyes [watchful and all-seeing] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] are in every [all, entire] place [location, region, or condition], observing [watching, keeping watch upon, beholding] the evil [bad, morally wrong] and the good [pleasant, beneficial, welfare]. word study 4 A soothing [gentle, wholesome, healing] tongue [language, words] is a tree [a tree; wood, timber, a plank] of life [physical and spiritual, eternal], but a perverse [crooked, twisted] tongue [speech, communication] crushes [breaks, shatters] the spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions]. word study 5 A fool [despises, scornfully rejects] rejects his father’s discipline [instruction, correction], but whoever heeds [regards, accepts] correction [reproof, rebuke] is prudent [shrewd, wise, having good sense]. word study 6 The house [dwelling place, family home] of the righteous [just, morally upright] has great [abundant, much] treasure [wealth, riches], but the income [produce, revenue] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] is trouble [to trouble, causing problems]. word study 7 The lips [edge of speech, language] of the wise [skilled, prudent] spread [disperse, scatter] knowledge [understanding, insight], but not so [thus, in the same way] the hearts [feelings, will, intellect] of fools [stupid, silly, rejecting God’s wisdom]. word study 8 The sacrifice [offering, act of worship] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] is detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to the LORD [Yehovah, God Almighty], but the prayer [supplication, request] of the upright [just, righteous] is His delight [acceptance, pleasure]. word study 9 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] detests [abhors, considers an abomination] the way [path, manner of life] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin], but He loves [has affection for, delights in] those who pursue [chase after, follow] righteousness [justice, virtue, morality]. word study 10 Discipline [correction, chastisement] is harsh [grievous, bitter] for him who leaves [forsakes, abandons] the path [way, journey]; he who hates [intensely dislikes, rejects] correction [rebuke, reproof] will die [perish, succumb to death]. word study 11 Sheol [the underworld, place of no return] and Abaddon [destruction, ruin] lie open [are fully exposed] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty]— how much more [certainly, all the more] the hearts [the center of emotions and thoughts] of men [the children of Adam, humanity]! word study 12 A [scoffer, scorner] mocker [one who mocks or scorns] does not love [have affection for, delight in] to be reproved [corrected, rebuked, to rebuke or correct], nor will he consult [go to, seek advice from] the wise [intelligent, skilled, wise or skilled, having discernment]. word study 13 A [glad, joyful] joyful heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] makes a cheerful [shining] countenance [face, presence], but [by reason of, in] sorrow [injury, pain] of the heart [the center of emotions] crushes [breaks, stricken] the spirit [the breath of life, mind, and emotions]. word study 14 A discerning [having good sense, insightful] heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] seeks [searches for, inquires about] knowledge [understanding, wisdom], but the mouth [lips, words] of a fool [stupid, silly, unwise] feeds [nourishes, satisfies] on folly [foolishness, silliness, ridiculous behavior]. word study 15 All [every single one] the days [literal or figurative periods of time] of the oppressed [afflicted, troubled, or depressed] are bad [evil, morally harmful], but a cheerful [merry, glad] heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] has a continual [constant, perpetual] feast [banquet, celebration]. word study 16 Better [more desirable, preferable] a little [a small amount, limited resources] with the fear [reverence, awe] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] than great [abundant, plentiful] treasure [wealth, riches] with turmoil [trouble, tumult, confusion]. word study 17 Better [more desirable, preferable] a dish of vegetables [herbs, green plants] where there is [present, residing] love [affection, tender care] than a fattened [stalled, well-fed] ox [cattle, beef] with [accompanied by, in the presence of] hatred [hostility, ill will]. word study 18 A hot-tempered [wrathful, full of rage] man [individual, person] stirs up [causes, provokes] strife [contention, quarrel], but he who is slow [patient, long-suffering] to anger [intense fury, burning emotion] calms [quiets, appeases] dispute [strife, argument]. word study 19 The way [path or journey, manner of life] of the slacker [slothful, habitually lazy] is like a hedge [thorny enclosure] of thorns [briars, obstacles], but the path [road, journey] of the upright [righteous, just] is a highway [open, level road, made plain]. word study 20 A wise [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] son [a descendant or child] brings joy [rejoices, makes glad] to his father [a paternal figure or ancestor], but a foolish [stupid, silly, or unwise] man [a human or person] despises [holds in contempt, or rejects] his mother [a maternal figure or nurturer]. word study 21 Folly [foolish behavior, silliness] is joy [gladness, happiness] to one who lacks [is destitute of, without] judgment [wisdom, discernment], but a man [individual, person] of understanding [intelligence, insight] walks [lives, travels] a straight [smooth, upright] path [way, journey]. word study 22 Plans [purposes, thoughts, intentions] fail [are disappointed, come to nothing] for lack [absence, want] of counsel [advice, guidance, secret or intimate conversation], but with many [a multitude, abundance] advisers [counsellors, guides] they succeed [are established, stand firm]. word study 23 A man [male person, individual] takes joy [happiness, gladness] in a fitting [appropriate, suitable] reply [answer, response]— and how good [pleasant, beneficial] is a timely [in due season, at the right moment] word [message, thing]! word study 24 The path [way, journey] of life [being alive, spiritual vitality] leads upward [above, on high] for the wise [prudent, discerning], that he may avoid [turn aside, depart] going down [beneath, to the lower realm] to Sheol [the underworld, grave, place of no return]. word study 25 The LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] tears down [uproots, destroys] the house [dwelling place, family home] of the proud [arrogant, lofty], but He protects [establishes, strengthens] the boundaries [borders, limits] of the widow [a woman left alone, vulnerable]. word study 26 The LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] detests [has extreme hatred for, considers an abomination] the thoughts [plans, devices, machinations] of the wicked [those who are morally bad, evil], but the words [sayings, utterances] of the pure [those who are clean, ceremonially pure] are pleasant [agreeable, delightful, full of pleasantness] to Him [as His delight, with His approval]. word study 27 He who is [extremely] greedy [covetous, craving unjustly] for unjust gain [unfair profit, ill-gotten wealth] brings [stirs up, causes] trouble [disturbance, affliction] on his household [family, dwelling place], but he who hates [intensely dislikes, abhors] bribes [gifts, corrupt payments] will live [have life, be revived]. word study 28 The heart [center of feelings and intellect] of the righteous [just, morally upright] ponders [to mutter, meditate] how to answer [to respond, give a thoughtful reply], but the mouth [lip, edge of expression] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] blurts out [to bubble, gush forth] evil [bad, morally harmful]. word study 29 The LORD [Yehovah] is far [distant, remote] from the wicked [those who are morally wrong, guilty of sin], but He hears [listens with attention and obedience] the prayer [supplication, request] of the righteous [those who are just, made right with God, having God’s nature]. word study 30 The light [happiness, cheerfulness] of the eyes [source of something] cheers [rejoices, makes glad] the heart [feelings, will, intellect], and good [pleasant, beneficial] news [tidings, report] nourishes [makes fat, prospers] the bones [body, substance]. word study 31 He who listens [pays attention, heeds the warning] to life-giving [of spiritual vitality, promoting salvation] reproof [correction, chastisement, the ear that hears] will dwell [abide, lodge, have his place] among [in the midst of] the wise [intelligent, prudent, skilled in the ways of God]. word study 32 He who ignores [rejects, refuses to heed] discipline [correction, instruction] despises [rejects, has contempt for] himself, but whoever heeds [listens to, obeys] correction [rebuke, reproof] gains [acquires, gets] understanding [insight, wisdom]. word study 33 The fear [reverence, respect] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is the instruction [discipline, correction] of wisdom [skill, prudence, good judgment], and humility [a modest or humble mindset] comes before [in the presence of] honor [great honor, splendor, glory]. word study