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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 15 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" 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href="../proverbs/14.htm" title="Proverbs 14">◄</a> Proverbs 15 <a href="../proverbs/16.htm" title="Proverbs 16">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/proverbs/15.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>A gentle answer turns away wrath,</p><p class="line2">but a harsh word stirs up anger.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,</p><p class="line2">but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>The eyes of the <span class="name">Lord</span> are everywhere,</p><p class="line2">keeping watch on the wicked and the good.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>The soothing tongue is a tree of life,</p><p class="line2">but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,</p><p class="line2">but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>The house of the righteous contains great treasure,</p><p class="line2">but the income of the wicked brings ruin.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The lips of the wise spread knowledge,</p><p class="line2">but the hearts of fools are not upright.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> detests the sacrifice of the wicked,</p><p class="line2">but the prayer of the upright pleases him.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> detests the way of the wicked,</p><p class="line2">but he loves those who pursue righteousness.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;</p><p class="line2">the one who hates correction will die.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Death and Destruction <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew Abaddon">a</a></sup></span> lie open before the <span class="name">Lord</span>—</p><p class="line2">how much more do human hearts!</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Mockers resent correction,</p><p class="line2">so they avoid the wise.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>A happy heart makes the face cheerful,</p><p class="line2">but heartache crushes the spirit.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The discerning heart seeks knowledge,</p><p class="line2">but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>All the days of the oppressed are wretched,</p><p class="line2">but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Better a little with the fear of the <span class="name">Lord</span></p><p class="line2">than great wealth with turmoil.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Better a small serving of vegetables with love</p><p class="line2">than a fattened calf with hatred.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,</p><p class="line2">but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,</p><p class="line2">but the path of the upright is a highway.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>A wise son brings joy to his father,</p><p class="line2">but a foolish man despises his mother.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,</p><p class="line2">but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Plans fail for lack of counsel,</p><p class="line2">but with many advisers they succeed.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—</p><p class="line2">and how good is a timely word!</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The path of life leads upward for the prudent</p><p class="line2">to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> tears down the house of the proud,</p><p class="line2">but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> detests the thoughts of the wicked,</p><p class="line2">but gracious words are pure in his sight.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The greedy bring ruin to their households,</p><p class="line2">but the one who hates bribes will live.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,</p><p class="line2">but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> is far from the wicked,</p><p class="line2">but he hears the prayer of the righteous.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,</p><p class="line2">and good news gives health to the bones.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Whoever heeds life-giving correction</p><p class="line2">will be at home among the wise.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,</p><p class="line2">but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the <span class="name">Lord</span>,</p><p class="line2">and humility comes before honor.</p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> <span class="footnotebot">Hebrew <i>Abaddon</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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