Moff PROV Chapter 15

15 

A mild reply turns wrath aside,

but a sharp word will stir up anger.

2 

Knowledge distils from wise discourse:

folly gushes from the discourse of fools.

3 

The eyes of the Eternal are in every place,

keeping watch upon the wicked and the good.

4 

A soothing tongue means life and peace,

but wild words wound.

5 

A senseless fellow scorns his father’s counsel,

but he who listens to reproof shows his good sense.

6 

In a good man’s house there is ample treasure,

but revenues of bad men go to wreck.

7 

Wise men’s discourse diffuses knowledge,

but a fool’s mind will never master it.

8 

Sacrifice from evil men is loathsome to the Eternal,

but the prayers of upright men are his delight.

9 

A wicked life is loathsome to the Eternal:

he loves the man bent upon honesty.

10 

There is stern punishment for him who breaks away;

he who will not be warned shall die.

11 

Death and the world of the dead he open to the Eternal;

how much more the hearts of men!

12 

A scoffer never cares to be corrected,

he will not mix with men of sense.

13 

A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but a sad heart breaks the spirit.

15 

For the hapless, every day is hard,

but a cheerful heart is an unending feast.

14 

The thoughtful mind is eager to know more,

but a fool’s heart is taken up with folly.

16 

Better a little, with reverence for the Eternal,

than large wealth with worry.

17 

Better a dish of vegetables, with love,

than the best beef served with hatred.

18 

An ill-tempered man stirs up disputes,

but a forbearing man smoothes strife away.

19 

The lazy man finds life beset with thorns;

the diligent finds it a well-paved road.

20 

A sensible son is a joy to his father,

but a fool of a man despises his mother.

21 

Folly is a delight to senseless men,

but a man of sense leads a straightforward life.

22 

When no one is consulted, plans are foiled:

when many are consulted, they succeed.

23 

Apt answers are a joy to men;

a word in season, what a help it is!

24 

The wise man’s road winds upward into life;

he shuns the downward path to death.

25 

The Eternal overthrows the proud man’s house,

but he preserves the widow’s field intact.

26 

Crafty schemes are loathsome to the Eternal,

but friendly words are a delight to him.

27 

A grasping nature is its own undoing,

but he who hates a bribe shall prosper.

28 

A good man ponders what to say:

bad men let out a flood of evil talk.

29 

The Eternal keeps the wicked at a distance;

he listens to a good man’s prayer.

30 

Good-fortune is the joy of life,

good news is health and vigour.

31 

A man who listens to healthy reproof

will rank among wise men.

32 

He wrongs himself who will not be set right,

but he who listens to reproof gains sense.

33 

Reverence for the Eternal trains men to be wise,

and to be humble is the way to honour.