Proverbs 15:4-19

⁴Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.

⁵Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.

⁶There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.

⁷Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.

⁸The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.

⁹The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.

¹⁰If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.

¹¹Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts!

¹²Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.

¹³If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.

¹⁴An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.

¹⁵The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.

¹⁶It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.

¹⁷Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.

¹⁸Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.

¹⁹The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.