Proverbs 15 — BBE

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