CHAPTER 15
1 A soft answer breaketh ire; an hard word raiseth strong vengeance.
2 The tongue of wise men honoureth knowing; the mouth of fools boileth out folly.
3 In each place the eyes of the Lord behold good men, and evil men.
4 A pleasant tongue is the tree of life; but the tongue that is unmeasurable [or untempered], shall defoul the spirit.
5 A fool scorneth the teaching of his father; but he that keepeth blamings, shall be made wiser. Most virtue shall be in plenteous rightfulness [or rightwiseness]; but the thoughts of wicked men shall be drawn up by the root.
6 The house of a just [or rightwise] man is full great strength; and troubling is in the fruits of a wicked man.
7 The lips of wise men shall sow abroad knowing; the hearts of fools shall be unlike, that is, they shall be full of ignorance.
8 The sacrifices of wicked men be abominable to the Lord; the avows of just men [or the vows of rightwise men]be pleasant.
9 The life of the unpious man is abomination to the Lord; he that pur-sueth rightfulness [or followeth right-wiseness], shall be loved of the Lord.
10 Evil teaching is of men that forsake the way of life; he that hateth blamings shall die.
11 Hell and perdition be open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of [the] sons of men.
12 A man full of pestilence loveth not him that reproveth him; and he goeth not to wise men.
13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face; the spirit is cast down in the mourning of soul.
14 The heart of a wise man seeketh teaching; and the mouth of fools is fed with unknowing.
15 All the days of a poor man be evil; a secure soul is a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the dread of the Lord, than many treasures and unfillable.
17 It is better to be called to worts with charity, than with hatred to a calf made fat.
18 A wrathful man raiseth chidings; he that is patient, assuageth chidings that were raised.
19 The way of slow men is as an hedge of thorns; the way of just [or rightwise] men is without [thing of] hurting.
20 A wise son maketh glad his father; but a fond [or foolish] man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to a fool; but a prudent man shall address his steps.
22 Thoughts be destroyed, where no counsel is; but where many counsellors be, they be confirmed.
23 A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a covenable word is best.
24 The path of life is on a learned man; that he bow away from the last hell.
25 The Lord shall destroy the house of proud men; and he shall make steadfast the coasts of a widow.
26 Evil thoughts is abomination of the Lord; and a clean word most fair shall be made steadfast of him.
27 He that pursueth [or followeth] avarice, troubleth his house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Sins be purged by mercy and faith; each man boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord.
28 The soul of a just [or rightwise] man bethinketh obedience; the mouth of wicked men is full of evils.
29 The Lord is far from wicked men; and he shall hear the prayers of just [or rightwise] men.
30 The light of eyes maketh glad the soul; good fame maketh fat the bones.
31 The ear that heareth the blamings of life, shall dwell in the midst of wise men.
32 He that casteth away chastising [or discipline], despiseth his soul; but he that assenteth to blamings, is a peaceable holder of the heart.
33 The dread of the Lord is teaching of wisdom; and meekness goeth before glory.