- 1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- 2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- 3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
- 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
- 5A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
- 6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
- 7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
- 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- 9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
- 10Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
- 11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
- 12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
- 13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
- 14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
- 15All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
- 16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
- 17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
- 18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
- 19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
- 20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
- 21Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
- 22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
- 23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
- 24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
- 25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
- 26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
- 27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
- 28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
- 29The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
- 30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
- 31The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
- 32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
- 33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
KING JAMES VERSION
PROVERBS 15
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Proverbs 15 — A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath.
About this illustration
The composition centers a gentle answer turns away wrath as the chapter’s defining visual, using a unified, historically grounded scene while avoiding written text and any bodily depiction of God.
Scripture basis: Proverbs 15:1–33King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late Herodian period
4QProverbsᵇ (4Q103): Wisdom Text in Hebrew
Fourteen small late Herodian fragments preserve Proverbs 13-15, with possible pieces from chapter 7; their readings mostly support a proto-Masoretic text while exposing how little evidence can bear on large textual claims.
Proverbs 13:6–9 · Proverbs 14:5–13 · Proverbs 15:1–8
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
5th century BC; copied after an account dated about 475 BC
The Aramaic Words of Ahiqar from Elephantine
A fifth-century BC Aramaic papyrus from Elephantine preserves part of the story and sayings of the wise courtier Ahiqar. The manuscript documents wisdom literature in the same Persian-period world as biblical Proverbs and Job while remaining a distinct, non-Yahwistic composition.
Proverbs 10:19 · Proverbs 15:1–4 · Proverbs 26:27
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