15 A ^(A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a ^[a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.
² The ^(C)tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the ^(D)mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
³ The ^(E)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
⁴ A ^[b]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it ^[c]crushes the spirit.
⁵ A fool ^[d]rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
⁶ Great wealth is in the house of the ^(F)righteous,
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 ^(G)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But ^(H)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves the one who ^(I)pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
One who hates a rebuke will die.
^11 [e](J)Sheol and ^[f]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the ^(K)hearts of ^[g]mankind!
¹² A ^(L)scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
He will not go to the wise.
¹³ A ^(M)joyful heart makes a ^[h]cheerful face,
But ^[i]when the heart is ^(N)sad, the ^(O)spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The ^(P)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
¹⁵ All the days of the ^[j]needy are bad,
But a ^[k]cheerful heart has a continual feast.
^16 (Q)Better is a little with ^[l]the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure, and turmoil with ^[m]the treasure.
^17 (R)Better is a portion of ^[n]vegetables where there is love,
Than a ^(S)fattened ox served with hatred.
¹⁸ A ^(T)hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the ^(U)slow to anger ^(V)calms a dispute.
¹⁹ The way of the ^[o]lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A ^(W)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man ^(X)despises his mother.
²¹ Foolishness is joy to one who lacks ^[p]sense,
But a person of understanding ^(Y)walks straight.
²² Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they ^[q]succeed.
²³ A ^(Z)person has joy in an ^[r]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely ^(AA)word!
²⁴ The ^(AB)path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from ^[s]Sheol below.
²⁵ The Lord will ^(AC)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will ^(AD)set the boundary of the ^(AE)widow.
²⁶ Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
²⁷ He who ^(AF)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who ^(AG)hates bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(AH)ponders how to answer,
But the ^(AI)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is ^(AJ)far from the wicked,
But He ^(AK)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 [t]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news ^[u]refreshes the bones.
³¹ One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
³² One who ^(AL)neglects discipline ^(AM)rejects himself,
But one who ^(AN)listens to a rebuke acquires ^[v]understanding.
^33 [w]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.