Proverbs 15 WYC
Summary: This chapter opens with one of the book's best-known lines, "a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (v. 1), and teaches that "the eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (v. 3). It contrasts a glad heart that makes a cheerful face with a sorrowful spirit that crushes it, and famously values a modest "dinner of herbs where love is" over "a fattened ox and hatred with it" (v. 17). The chapter closes emphasizing that plans succeed through much counsel, that humility precedes honor, and that the LORD hears the prayer of the righteous while keeping his distance from the wicked.
1A soft answere brekith ire; an hard word reisith woodnesse.
2The tunge of wise men ourneth kunnyng; the mouth of foolis buylith out foli.
3In ech place the iyen of the Lord biholden good men, and yuel men.
4A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.
5A fool scorneth the techyng of his fadir; but he that kepith blamyngis, schal be maad wisere. Moost vertu schal be in plenteuouse riytfulnesse; but the thouytis of wickid men schulen be drawun vp bi the roote.
6The hous of a iust man is moost strengthe; and disturbling is in the fruitis of a wickid man.
7The lippis of wise men schulen sowe abrood kunnyng; the herte of foolis schal be vnlijc.
8The sacrifices of wickyd men ben abhomynable to the Lord; avowis of iust men ben plesaunt.
9The lijf of the vnpitouse man is abhomynacioun to the Lord; he that sueth riytfulnesse, schal be loued of the Lord.
10Yuel teching is of men forsakinge the weie of lijf; he that hatith blamyngis, schal die.
11Helle and perdicioun ben open bifor the Lord; hou myche more the hertis of sones of men.
12A man ful of pestilence loueth not hym that repreueth him; and he goith not to wyse men.
13A ioiful herte makith glad the face; the spirit is cast doun in the morenyng of soule.
14The herte of a wijs man sekith techyng; and the mouth of foolis is fed with vnkunnyng.
15Alle the daies of a pore man ben yuele; a sikir soule is a contynuel feeste.
16Betere is a litil with the drede of the Lord, than many tresouris and vnfillable.
17It is betere to be clepid to wortis with charite, than with hatrede to a calf maad fat.
18A wrathful man reisith chidyngis; he that is pacient, swagith chidyngis reisid.
19The weie of slow men is an hegge of thornes; the weie of iust men is with out hirtyng.
20A wise sone makith glad the fadir; and a fonned man dispisith his modir.
21Foli is ioye to a fool; and a prudent man schal dresse hise steppis.
22Thouytis ben distried, where no counsel is; but where many counseleris ben, tho ben confermyd.
23A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a couenable word is best.
24The path of lijf is on a lernyd man; that he bowe awei fro the laste helle.
25The Lord schal distrie the hows of proude men; and he schal make stidefast the coostis of a widewe.
26Iuele thouytis is abhomynacioun of the Lord; and a cleene word moost fair schal be maad stidfast of hym.
27He that sueth aueryce, disturblith his hous; but he that hatith yiftis schal lyue. Synnes ben purgid bi merci and feith; ech man bowith awei fro yuel bi the drede of the Lord.
28The soule of a iust man bithenkith obedience; the mouth of wickid men is ful of yuelis.
29The Lord is fer fro wickid men; and he schal here the preyers of iust men.
30The liyt of iyen makith glad the soule; good fame makith fat the boonys.
31The eere that herith the blamyngis of lijf, schal dwelle in the myddis of wise men.
32He that castith awei chastisyng, dispisith his soule; but he that assentith to blamyngis, is pesible holdere of the herte.
33The drede of the Lord is teching of wisdom; and mekenesse goith bifore glorie.
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