15
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1 A
Agentle answer turns away wrath,
But a
1Bharsh word stirs up anger.
2 The
Atongue of the wise makes knowledge
1acceptable,
But the
Bmouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The
Aeyes of the Loʀᴅ are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A
1soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it
2crushes the spirit.
5 A fool
1rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.
6 Great wealth is
in the house of the
Arighteous,
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
Asacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Loʀᴅ,
But
Bthe prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Loʀᴅ,
But He loves one who
Apursues righteousness.
10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
11 1ASheol and
2Abaddon
lie open before the Loʀᴅ,
How much more the
Bhearts of
3men!
12 A
Ascoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13 A
Ajoyful heart makes a
1cheerful face,
But
2when the heart is
Bsad, the
Cspirit is broken.
14 The
Amind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a
1cheerful heart
has a continual feast.
16 ABetter is a little with the
1fear of the Loʀᴅ
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 ABetter is a
1dish of
2vegetables where love is
Than a
Bfattened ox
served with hatred.
18 A
Ahot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the
Bslow to anger
Ccalms 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
Awise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man
Bdespises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who lacks
1sense,
But a man of understanding
Awalks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they
1succeed.
23 A
Aman has joy in an
1apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely
Bword!
24 The
Apath of life
leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from
1Sheol below.
25 The Loʀᴅ will
Atear down the house of the proud,
But He will
Bestablish the boundary of the
Cwidow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Loʀᴅ,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who
Aprofits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who
Bhates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous
Aponders how to answer,
But the
Bmouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Loʀᴅ is
Afar from the wicked,
But He
Bhears the prayer of the righteous.
30 1Bright 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
Aneglects discipline
Bdespises himself,
But he who
Clistens to reproof acquires
1understanding.
33 The
1fear of the Loʀᴅ is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.