Proverbs
Chapter 15
This chapter is a collection of short sayings that set wise living beside foolish living, two lines at a time. Many of them are about speech: the gentle answer, the timely word, the mouth that blurts out evil. Others weigh what people own against how they live, saying that a little with peace beats much with trouble. Running through it all is the claim that the LORD sees everything, including what people think.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
1A gentle answer turns anger away. Harsh words only make anger grow.
2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
2Wise people use what they know in a way worth hearing. Fools pour out silly talk.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
3The LORD's eyes are everywhere. He sees both the evil and the good.
4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
4Kind words are like a tree that gives life. Twisted words crush a person's spirit.
5A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
5A fool sneers at his father's correction. Whoever pays attention to correction is smart.
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
6The house of a good person holds much treasure. What a wicked person earns brings trouble.
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
7Wise people spread knowledge wherever they go. The hearts of fools do not.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
8The LORD hates the offerings wicked people bring. The prayers of honest people make him glad.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
9The LORD hates the way wicked people live. He loves anyone who chases after what is right.
10Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
10Correction feels harsh to a person who has left the right path. Whoever hates correction will die.
11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
11The world of the dead lies wide open before the LORD. So do the hearts of people.
The KJV says "hell and destruction." These are two Hebrew names, Sheol and Abaddon, and they mean the place where dead people go. The word "hell" here does not carry the later meaning of a place of punishment.
12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
12Someone who mocks others hates being corrected. He will not go to wise people for help.
13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
13A happy heart shows on a person's face. Sorrow in the heart crushes the spirit.
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
14A person with understanding goes looking for knowledge. The mouth of fools feeds on foolish talk.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
15Every day is hard for someone who is suffering. But a cheerful heart is like a feast that never ends.
16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
16Better to have little and respect the LORD than to have great riches and trouble along with them.
17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fat roast where there is hate.
A "stalled ox" was an ox kept in a stall and fed until it was fat. It was the most expensive meal a family could serve.
18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
18A hot-tempered person starts fights. Someone slow to get angry calms fights down.
19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
19A lazy person's path is blocked like a hedge of thorns. The path of good people is a clear road.
20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
20A wise son makes his father glad. A foolish man treats his mother with scorn.
21Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
21Foolish behavior is fun to a person with no sense. A person with understanding walks a straight path.
22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
22Plans fall apart when nobody gives advice. With many advisers, plans hold up.
23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
23It feels good to give the right answer. And a word said at just the right time is very good!
24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
24For wise people the path of life leads upward, away from the world of the dead below.
25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
25The LORD tears down the house of a proud person. He guards the land that belongs to a widow.
Stone markers showed where one family's land ended and the next began. Moving them was a way of stealing land, and a widow often had nobody to defend hers.
26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
26The LORD hates what wicked people think about. The words of pure-hearted people please him.
27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
27Someone greedy for money brings trouble on his own family. Someone who refuses bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
28A good person thinks carefully before answering. Wicked people blurt out evil things.
29The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
29The LORD stays far from wicked people. He hears the prayers of people who do right.
30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
30A bright look in someone's eyes makes the heart glad. Good news gives the whole body strength.
The KJV says good news "maketh the bones fat." That was an old way of saying it makes a person strong and healthy.
31The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
31Whoever listens to correction that leads to life will live among wise people.
32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
32Whoever refuses to be taught is hurting himself. Whoever listens to correction gains understanding.
33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
33Respect for the LORD is what teaches wisdom. Humility comes before honor.
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