Proverbs 15-18
Skip Heitzig
Proverbs 15 (NKJV™) | |
1 | A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. |
2 | The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. |
3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. |
4 | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. |
5 | A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent. |
6 | In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble. |
7 | The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so. |
8 | The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. |
9 | The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness. |
10 | Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. |
11 | Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. |
12 | A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise. |
13 | A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. |
14 | The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. |
15 | All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. |
16 | Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. |
17 | Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred. |
18 | A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. |
19 | The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. |
20 | A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. |
21 | Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. |
22 | Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. |
23 | A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! |
24 | The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below. |
25 | The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. |
26 | The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, But the words of the pure are pleasant. |
27 | He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live. |
28 | The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. |
29 | The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. |
30 | The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy. |
31 | The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. |
32 | He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. |
33 | The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. |
Proverbs 16 (NKJV™) | |
1 | The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. |
2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. |
3 | Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. |
4 | The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. |
5 | Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. |
6 | In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. |
7 | When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. |
8 | Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. |
9 | A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. |
10 | Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. |
11 | Honest weights and scales are the LORD'S; All the weights in the bag are His work. |
12 | It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. |
13 | Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. |
14 | As messengers of death is the king's wrath, But a wise man will appease it. |
15 | In the light of the king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. |
16 | How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. |
17 | The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. |
18 | Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. |
19 | Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. |
20 | He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. |
21 | The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. |
22 | Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. |
23 | The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. |
24 | Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. |
25 | There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. |
26 | The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. |
27 | An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. |
28 | A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. |
29 | A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. |
30 | He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. |
31 | The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. |
32 | He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. |
33 | The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. |
Proverbs 17 (NKJV™) | |
1 | Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. |
2 | A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. |
3 | The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. |
4 | An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. |
5 | He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. |
6 | Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. |
7 | Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. |
8 | A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. |
9 | He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. |
10 | Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. |
11 | An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. |
12 | Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. |
13 | Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. |
14 | The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. |
15 | He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. |
16 | Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? |
17 | A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. |
18 | A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. |
19 | He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. |
20 | He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. |
21 | He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. |
22 | A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. |
23 | A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. |
24 | Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. |
25 | A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. |
26 | Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. |
27 | He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. |
28 | Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. |
Proverbs 18 (NKJV™) | |
1 | A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. |
2 | A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. |
3 | When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. |
4 | The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. |
5 | It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. |
6 | A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. |
7 | A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. |
8 | The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. |
9 | He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. |
10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. |
11 | The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. |
12 | Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. |
13 | He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. |
14 | The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? |
15 | The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. |
16 | A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. |
17 | The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. |
18 | Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. |
19 | A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. |
20 | A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. |
21 | Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. |
22 | He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. |
23 | The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. |
24 | A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
Proverbs is a book of wisdom, the thoughts of Israel's King Solomon on the righteous and godly way to live. Skip Heitzig examines its teachings of discernment, discipline, and prudence.
FREE - Download Entire Series (MP3) (Help)
| Buy audiobook