Pro 15 | ESV | STEP | A soft answer turns away wrath , but a harsh word stirs up anger .

‏ Proverbs 15

1 ^aA soft answer turns away wrath,
but ^ba harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but ^cthe mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 ^dThe eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 ^eA gentle ^{▼▼Or healing} tongue is ^ga tree of life,
but ^hperverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 ⁱA fool ^jdespises his father’s instruction,
but ^kwhoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 ^lThe lips of the wise spread knowledge;
^mnot so the hearts of fools. ^{▼▼Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast}
8 ^oThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but ^pthe prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him ^qwho pursues righteousness.
10 There is ^rsevere discipline for him who forsakes the way;
^swhoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more ^tthe hearts of the children of man!
12 ^uA scoffer ^vdoes not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 ^wA glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by ^xsorrow of heart the spirit is ^ycrushed.
14 ^zThe heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but ^aathe cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 ^abBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 ^acBetter is a dinner of herbs where love is
than ^ada fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 ^aeA hot-tempered man ^afstirs up strife,
but he who is ^agslow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of ^aha sluggard is like a hedge of ^aithorns,
but the path of the upright is ^aja level highway.
20 ^akA wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 ^alFolly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding ^amwalks straight ahead.
22 ^anWithout counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and ^aoa word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward ^apfor the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of ^aqthe proud
but ^armaintains ^asthe widow’s boundaries.
26 ^atThe thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but ^augracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is ^avgreedy for unjust gain ^awtroubles his own household,
but he who hates ^axbribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ^ayponders how to answer,
but ^azthe mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is ^bafar from the wicked,
but he ^bbhears the prayer of the righteous.
30 ^bcThe light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and ^bdgood news refreshes ^{▼▼Hebrew makes fat} the bones.
31 ^bfThe ear that listens to ^bglife-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ^bhignores instruction ^bidespises himself,
but he who listens to reproof ^bjgains intelligence.
33 ^bkThe fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and ^blhumility comes before honor.