Proverbs · 33 verses
Proverbs 15
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
In Proverbs, good news does not merely cheer the heart: it nourishes the bones, while Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD and human hearts are no less exposed.
Words that turn the roomvv. 1–14
The chapter begins with speech having immediate consequences: a gentle answer turns away wrath, while a harsh word stirs anger. The wise tongue commends knowledge; the fool’s mouth produces folly with almost industrial efficiency. Beneath every word are hearts laid open before the LORD, who sees evil and good alike. A soothing tongue becomes a tree of life, but a perverse one crushes the spirit. Correction divides the prudent from the fool, and even the mocker declines the sensible business of consulting the wise.
The household, the table, and the roadvv. 15–24
The inner weather of a person alters the whole day: the oppressed have bad days, while a cheerful heart keeps a continual feast. The chapter then sets a remarkably modest table—vegetables with love—against the grander but less appetising spectacle of a fattened ox with hatred. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife; the slow-to-anger man calms it. Around them stand the slacker’s thorn hedge, the upright man’s highway, the wise son who brings joy to his father, and the foolish man who despises his mother. Plans need counsel, replies need timing, and the wise path leads upward rather than down to Sheol.
What stands open before the LORDvv. 25–33
The LORD tears down the house of the proud but protects the widow’s boundaries; He detests wicked thoughts, unjust gain, and bribes. The righteous ponder how to answer, while the wicked blurt out evil. The LORD is far from the wicked but hears the prayer of the righteous. Then comes the chapter’s odd and excellent nourishment: good news feeds the bones. Correction leads among the wise, understanding follows discipline, and humility arrives before honor.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
Prov 15:3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
Prov 15:4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Prov 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
Prov 15:6The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
Prov 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Prov 15:9The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
Prov 15:10Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
Prov 15:11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!
Prov 15:12A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.
Prov 15:13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
Prov 15:14A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Prov 15:15All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Prov 15:16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
Prov 15:17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
Prov 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
Prov 15:19The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Prov 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Prov 15:21Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
Prov 15:22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Prov 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
Prov 15:24The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol.
Prov 15:25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.
Prov 15:26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
Prov 15:27He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
Prov 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Prov 15:30The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.
Prov 15:31He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Prov 15:32He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
Prov 15:33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 399 passages were voted onto 33 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 3Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- 1Proverbs 25:15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
- 1Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- 1Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- 3Jeremiah 16:17For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.
- 3Jeremiah 23:24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- 1Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- 32 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
- 3Proverbs 5:21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
- 22Proverbs 11:14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
- 29John 9:31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- 3Job 31:4Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
- 3Job 34:21–22For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
- 8Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- 3Jeremiah 32:19the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.
- 22Proverbs 20:18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
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