| Chapter 15 |
1 | By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings. |
2 | Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words. |
3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. |
4 | A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit. |
5 | A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense. |
6 | In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble. |
7 | The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right. |
8 | The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight. |
9 | The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him. |
10 | There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching. |
11 | Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! |
12 | The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise. |
13 | A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. |
14 | The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise. |
15 | All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast. |
16 | Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble. |
17 | Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it. |
18 | An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting. |
19 | Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway. |
20 | A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother. |
21 | Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight. |
22 | Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain. |
23 | A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is! |
24 | Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. |
25 | The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow. |
26 | Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing. |
27 | He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life. |
28 | The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things. |
29 | The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright. |
30 | The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat. |
31 | The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise. |
32 | He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom. |
33 | The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour. |