Chapter
Verse

Proverbs chapter 15

English Standard Version

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father 's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. 18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. 23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! 24The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. 25The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow 's boundaries. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. 27Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. 28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. 31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. 33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. 4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. 5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible. 6Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked. 7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so. 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves the one who pursues righteousness. 10There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way; One who hates a rebuke will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of mankind! 12A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him; He will not go to the wise. 13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. 14The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15All the days of the needy are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast. 16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure. 17Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love, Than a fattened ox served with hatred. 18A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute. 19The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway. 20A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. 21Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight. 22Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed. 23A person has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! 24The path of life leads upward for the wise, So that he may keep away from Sheol below. 25The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, But He will set the boundary of the widow. 26Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure. 27He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. 28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news refreshes the bones. 31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke Will stay among the wise. 32One who neglects discipline rejects himself, But one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding. 33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble. 7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness. 10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. 11 Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. 12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise. 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred. 18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. 19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. 20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. 22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. 23A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! 24 The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below. 25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant. 27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. 28The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. 30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy. 31The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. 32He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. 33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.

What does Proverbs chapter 15 mean?

This continues a long string of "proverbs:" short, general-case expressions of commonsense wisdom. A large section of these began in Proverbs chapter 10 and continues through Proverbs 22:16.

Solomon begins with several statements commending self-control. Cautious, gentle answers not only prevent additional strife, they reduce whatever tension already exists. A wise person carefully chooses their response, rather than babbling out whatever comes to mind. Closely connected to this is the need to humbly accept correction (Proverbs 15:1–5).

Next are several contrasts. These compare the righteous with the wicked, using the parallel ideas of those who are wise and those who are foolish. These proverbs echo themes such as the life-giving nature of godly wisdom, the disastrous consequences of sin, the importance of humility, and the value of seeking advice (Proverbs 15:6–12).

The majority of the chapter is made up of individual segments of wisdom, with a few repeating themes. Solomon notes the importance of perspective, which is more influential than wealth when it comes to happiness. Careful planning, seeking advice, hard work, and righteousness are all commended. Laziness, impatience, arrogance, and hypocrisy are condemned. The chapter ends with three proverbs echoing the recurring theme that sensible persons listen to godly wisdom—and this only comes through a reverent honor of God (Proverbs 15:13–33).
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