Proverbs 15

God Doesn't Miss a Thing ¹A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

²    Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
   fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

³    God doesn't miss a thing—
   he's alert to good and evil alike.

⁴    Kind words heal and help;
   cutting words wound and maim.

⁵    Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders;
   welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

⁶    The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
   a misspent life is soon bankrupt.

⁷    Perceptive words spread knowledge;
   fools are hollow—there's nothing to them.

⁸    GOD can't stand pious poses,
   but he delights in genuine prayers.

⁹    A life frittered away disgusts GOD;
   he loves those who run straight for the finish line.

¹⁰    It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path,
   a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.

¹¹    Even hell holds no secrets from GOD—
   do you think he can't read human hearts?

Life Ascends to the Heights ¹² Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do;
   they avoid the company of wise men and women.

¹³    A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
   a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

¹⁴    An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
   fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

¹⁵    A miserable heart means a miserable life;
   a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

¹⁶    A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD
   is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

¹⁷    Better a bread crust shared in love
   than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

¹⁸    Hot tempers start fights;
   a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

¹⁹    The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
   the diligent walk down a smooth road.

²⁰    Intelligent children make their parents proud;
   lazy students embarrass their parents.

²¹    The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
   the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

²²    Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
   take good counsel and watch them succeed.

²³    Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
   The right word at the right time—beautiful!

²⁴    Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
   it's a clean about-face from descent into hell.

²⁵    GOD smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
   he stands with those who have no standing.

²⁶    GOD can't stand evil scheming,
   but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.

²⁷    A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
   those who refuse to exploit live and let live.

²⁸    Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
   the wicked are sewers of abuse.

²⁹    GOD keeps his distance from the wicked;
   he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

³⁰    A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
   and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

³¹    Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
   an honored guest among wise men and women.

³²    An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
   an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.

³³    Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living—
   first you learn humility, then you experience glory.