15:1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.

15:2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

15:4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

15:5 A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.

15:6 In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.

15:7 The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.

15:8 The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.

15:9 The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.

15:10 There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.

15:11 Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men!

15:12 The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.

15:13 A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

15:14 The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.

15:15 All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.

15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.

15:17 Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.

15:18 An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.

15:19 Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.

15:20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.

15:21 Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.

15:22 Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.

15:23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!

15:24 Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld.

15:25 The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.

15:26 Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.

15:27 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.

15:28 The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.

15:29 The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.

15:30 The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.

15:31 The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.

15:32 He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.