Proverbs Chapter 15
Showing all 33 verses for Proverbs Chapter 15.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. "
"A gentle reply calms anger down; harsh words stir it up."
Turn the other cheek, I said. That isn't weakness - it's the strength to choose gentleness precisely when anger tempts you to match it.
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. "
"A wise person's words put knowledge to good use; a fool's mouth just spews out nonsense."
Let your speech be seasoned with grace. Think before you speak, because words either build people up or just spill out and wound them.
"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. "
"God sees everywhere - watching both the bad and the good that happens, everywhere, all the time."
Even the hairs on your head are numbered. I see everything, not to catch you out, but because I'm present with you in all of it, the good and the bad.
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. "
"Healthy, healing words are like a life-giving tree; twisted, harmful words crush the spirit."
I called myself the vine that gives life. Let your words be a branch of that same life, feeding people instead of crushing them.
"A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. "
"A fool sneers at their father's guidance; a sensible person takes correction seriously."
I welcomed correction, even submitting to my Father's will in the garden. Being teachable isn't weakness - it's the doorway to real growth.
"In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. "
"A righteous person's home holds real treasure; a wicked person's income just brings trouble along with it."
What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul? Wealth built on wrongdoing always ends up costing more than it earns.
"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. "
"Wise people's words spread knowledge around to others; a fool's heart just doesn't work that way."
Freely you have received, freely give. What I've taught you was never meant to stay locked inside you - pass it on.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. "
"God is disgusted by religious performance from wicked people, but he delights in the honest prayers of upright people."
I told the religious leaders of my day that their outward show meant nothing without a clean heart. I'm not interested in performance - only in honesty with me.
"The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. "
"God is disgusted by the wicked person's whole way of life, but he loves someone who actively pursues doing what's right."
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. It's the sincere pursuit, not flawless performance, that I honour in you.
"Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. "
"Correction feels harsh to someone who's already abandoned the right path, and someone who hates being corrected will end up ruined."
I wept over Jerusalem because it wouldn't listen. I never stop calling you back, but the choice to hear or refuse is always yours, and it matters.
"Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? "
"Even the realm of the dead and destruction lie open before God's sight - so how much more clearly does he see straight into human hearts?"
I knew what was in a person without anyone needing to tell me. Come to me exactly as you are - there's nothing to hide, because I already see it, and I love you anyway.
"A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. "
"A cynical mocker doesn't like being corrected, and won't even go near wise people who might challenge them."
I stood ready to gather Jerusalem like a hen gathers her chicks, but they were not willing. I never force myself on anyone - the door only opens from your side.
"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. "
"A happy heart shows on your face; a sorrowful heart crushes your spirit."
I came to give you life, and life abundantly - and to bind up the brokenhearted. If your spirit is crushed, bring it to me rather than carrying it alone.
"The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. "
"A person with understanding actively hunts for knowledge; a fool just feeds on foolishness."
Seek and you will find. Be intentional about what you let into your mind - what you feed on shapes who you become.
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. "
"Every day feels bad for someone who's afflicted, but someone with a joyful heart enjoys life like a never-ending feast."
I told you not to worry about tomorrow, and that my joy could be in you, full. Contentment isn't about your circumstances changing - it's about where your heart is anchored.
"Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. "
"It's better to have little, together with real reverence for God, than to have great wealth that comes with trouble."
You cannot serve both God and money. I'm not against wealth - I'm against the trouble and anxiety it brings when it becomes your foundation instead of your tool.
"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. "
"A simple vegetable dinner shared with love beats a lavish feast of fattened beef served with hatred."
Wherever two or three gather in love, I am there. It was never about the size of the table - it's about who's around it and how they treat each other.
"A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. "
"A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict; someone slow to anger actually calms conflict down."
Blessed are the peacemakers. Your patience in a heated moment can be exactly what stops a fight before it starts.
"The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. "
"A lazy person's path is blocked with thorny hedges at every turn; a righteous, diligent person's way is smooth and clear."
I told the parable of the talents - the one who used what he had found life opening up before him. Put in the effort now, and the path ahead gets easier, not harder.
"A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. "
"A wise child makes their father glad; a foolish person shows contempt for their own mother."
I honoured my mother even from the cross, making sure she'd be cared for. However things stand with your family, honouring the people who raised you is close to my heart.
"Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. "
"A foolish person actually enjoys their own foolishness; someone with understanding walks a straight, upright path instead."
I want to change what delights you, not just what you do. True transformation means you start to actually enjoy goodness, not just endure it out of obligation.
"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. "
"Plans fail without good advice, but with plenty of wise counsellors, plans actually succeed."
I sent my disciples out two by two. You were never meant to figure everything out alone - let the people who love you speak into your big decisions.
"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! "
"Giving the right answer brings real joy, and a word spoken at exactly the right moment is a wonderful thing."
I always knew when to speak and when to stay silent. Ask me for that same discernment, so your words land as gifts, not just noise.
"The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. "
"The wise person's path leads upward towards life, deliberately steering them away from the depths below."
I am the way, the truth and the life. Walking with me is choosing, day by day, the road that leads up and out, not down and in.
"The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. "
"God tears down the proud person's house, but he protects and secures the widow's property."
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, and I have a special place in my heart for those the world overlooks. If you're vulnerable, I'm on your side.
"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. "
"Wicked thoughts disgust God, but the words of pure-hearted people are pleasant to him."
I said it's not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of the heart. Guard your thoughts, because that's where everything else begins.
"He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. "
"Someone greedy for profit brings trouble on their own household, but someone who refuses bribes will live well."
You cannot serve both God and money. Greed always ends up costing the people closest to you - choose integrity even when it's the harder, less profitable road.
"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. "
"A righteous person thinks carefully before answering; a wicked person's mouth just gushes out evil."
Let your words be few and true. I want you to weigh what you say, not because I expect perfection, but because thoughtful words protect the people around you.
"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. "
"God stays distant from the wicked, but he listens closely to the prayers of the righteous."
I said if you cling to sin in your heart, it gets in the way of being heard - but the moment you turn back honestly, I run to meet you. The door's never actually locked; only your own hiding keeps you distant.
"The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. "
"A bright, cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news makes you feel healthy and strong right down to your bones."
I had good news of great joy to bring people. Never underestimate the power of a kind word or good news shared at the right moment - it can heal more than you think.
"The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. "
"Someone who listens to life-giving correction ends up living among the wise."
Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. I keep offering correction not to shame you but to invite you deeper into life - listening well is how you grow.
"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getheth understanding. "
"Refusing to be taught means despising your own life; listening to correction gains you real understanding."
I love you too much to let you stay where you are. Accepting correction from people who genuinely care about you is one of the most self-respecting things you can do.
"The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. "
"Reverence for God is what teaches you wisdom, and humility always comes before honour."
The first will be last, and the last first. If you want to end up honoured, don't chase it directly - humble yourself, serve others, and let honour come to you in its own time.