Day 197 of 364

^15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ^15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly. ^15:3The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. ^15:4A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. ^15:5A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. ^15:6In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. ^15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. ^15:8The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ^15:9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. ^15:10There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die. ^15:11Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! ^15:12A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. ^15:13A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit. ^15:14The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. ^15:15All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. ^15:16Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. ^15:17Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. ^15:18A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. ^15:19The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. ^15:20A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. ^15:21Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. ^15:22Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. ^15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! ^15:24The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. ^15:25The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact. ^15:26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. ^15:27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. ^15:28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. ^15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ^15:30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. ^15:31The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. ^15:32He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. ^15:33The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. ^16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ^16:2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives. ^16:3Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed. ^16:4The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. ^16:5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished. ^16:6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. ^16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ^16:8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. ^16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. ^16:10Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. ^16:11Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. ^16:12It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. ^16:13Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth. ^16:14The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. ^16:15In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain. ^16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ^16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul. ^16:18Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. ^16:19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud. ^16:20He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed. ^16:21The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. ^16:22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. ^16:23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. ^16:24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ^16:25There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. ^16:26The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on. ^16:27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. ^16:28A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. ^16:29A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. ^16:30One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil. ^16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness. ^16:32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. ^16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.