1. Wed: 2 Chronicles 13-18
  2. Thu: 2 John
  3. Fri: Micah 1-4
Saturday · Week 42
The Books of Poetry & Wisdom

Proverbs 13-15

Week 42 · about 11 min
  1. Sun: Deuteronomy 1-3
  2. Mon: Acts 6-7
  3. Tue: Jeremiah 38-40

More of Solomon’s proverbs, many about words, friendships, and the heart.

A Soft Answer

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Some of these are surprisingly honest about feelings: “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful.” One worth remembering is “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” A plate of vegetables with love beats a steak dinner with hatred. “Without counsel purposes are disappointed.”

Reflect: Where do you need to give a soft answer this week?

Proverbs 13

1A wise son -- the instruction of a father, And a scorner -- he hath not heard rebuke.

2From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.

3Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips -- ruin to him!

4The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.

5A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.

6Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.

7There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth is abundant.

8The ransom of a man's life are his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.

9The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

10A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled is wisdom.

11Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

12Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life is the coming desire.

13Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.

14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.

15Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous is hard.

16Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

17A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.

18Whoso is refusing instruction -- poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.

19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools is: Turn from evil.

20Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.

21Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.

22A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous is the sinner's wealth.

23Abundance of food -- the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.

24Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.

25The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!

Proverbs 14

1Every wise woman hath builded her house, And the foolish with her hands breaketh it down.

2Whoso is walking in his uprightness is fearing Jehovah, And the perverted in his ways is despising Him.

3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, And the lips of the wise preserve them.

4Without oxen a stall is clean, And great is the increase by the power of the ox.

5A faithful witness lieth not, And a false witness breatheth out lies.

6A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent is easy.

7Go from before a foolish man, Or thou hast not known the lips of knowledge.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, And the folly of fools is deceit.

9Fools mock at a guilt-offering, And among the upright -- a pleasing thing.

10The heart knoweth its own bitterness, And with its joy a stranger doth not intermeddle.

11The house of the wicked is destroyed, And the tent of the upright flourisheth.

12There is a way -- right before a man, And its latter end are ways of death.

13Even in laughter is the heart pained, And the latter end of joy is affliction.

14From his ways is the backslider in heart filled, And a good man -- from his fruits.

15The simple giveth credence to everything, And the prudent attendeth to his step.

16The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.

17Whoso is short of temper doth folly, And a man of wicked devices is hated.

18The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich are many.

21Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.

22Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth are to those devising good,

23In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips is only to want.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools is folly.

25A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.

26In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.

27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.

28In the multitude of a people is the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.

29Whoso is slow to anger is of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.

30A healed heart is life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones is envy.

31An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.

32In his wickedness is the wicked driven away, And trustful in his death is the righteous.

33In the heart of the intelligent wisdom doth rest. And in the midst of fools it is known.

34Righteousness exalteth a nation, And the goodliness of peoples is a sin-offering.

35The favour of a king is to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!

Proverbs 15

1A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

2The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

3In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.

4A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

5A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.

6In the house of the righteous is abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked -- trouble.

7The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools is not right.

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9An abomination to Jehovah is the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.

10Chastisement is grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

11Sheol and destruction are before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.

12A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.

13A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

14The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

15All the days of the afflicted are evil, And gladness of heart is a perpetual banquet.

16Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

17Better is an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

18A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19The way of the slothful is as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

20A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

21Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth his going.

22Without counsel is the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.

23Joy is to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season -- how good!

24A path of life is on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

25The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.

26An abomination to Jehovah are thoughts of wickedness, And pure are sayings of pleasantness.

27A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

28The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.

29Far is Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.

30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.

31An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

32Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.

33The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, And before honour is humility!

Young’s Literal Translation (YLT). Public domain.