Proverbs 15

By t.pep.me | December 30, 2016

The Message Audio | © Oasis Audio | Publisher Website

[1-11] A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

God can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.

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

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.

Even hell holds no secrets from God—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?

[12-20] Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[21-33] The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

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

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

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

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

God can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Proverbs