Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.
Ὀργὴ ἀπόλλυσι καὶ φρονίμους, ἀπόκρισις δὲ ὑποπίπτουσα ἀποστρέφει θυμὸν, λόγος δὲ λυπηρὸς ἐγείρει ὀργάς.
The Old Testament
Proverbs 15
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 15
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37 Brenton verses
The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things.
Γλῶσσα σοφῶν καλὰ ἐπίσταται, στόμα δὲ ἀφρόνων ἀναγγέλλει κακά.
The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place.
Ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ὀφθαλμοὶ Κυρίου σκοπεύουσι κακούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς.
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
Source notes (2)
- Gr. the healing of the tongue.
- Gr. spirit.
Ἴασις γλώσσης δένδρον ζωῆς, ὁ δὲ συντηρῶν αὐτὴν πλησθήσεται πνεύματος.
A fool scorns his father's instruction: but he that keeps his commandments is more prudent. In abounding righteousness is great strength: but the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.
Source notes (1)
- Gr. with the roots wholly torn up.
Ἄφρων μυκτηρίζει παιδείαν πατρὸς, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων ἐντολὰς, πανουργότερος· ἐν πλεοναζούσῃ δικαιοσύνῃ ἰσχὺς πολλὴ, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ὁλόῤῥιζοι ἐκ γῆς ἀπολοῦνται.
In the houses of the righteous is much strength: but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
Οἴκοις δικαίων ἰσχὺς πολλή, καρποὶ δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἀπολοῦνται.
The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.
Χείλη σοφῶν δέδεται αἰσθήσει, καρδίαι δὲ ἀφρόνων οὐκ ἀσφαλεῖς.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.
Θυσίαι ἀσεβῶν βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ, εὐχαὶ δὲ κατευθυνόντων δεκταὶ παρʼ αὐτῷ.
The ways of an ungodly man are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness.
Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ ὁδοὶ ἀσεβοῦς, διώκοντας δὲ δικαιοσύνην ἀγαπᾷ.
The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.
Παιδεία ἀκάκου γνωρίζεται ὑπὸ τῶν παριόντων, οἱ δὲ μισοῦντες ἐλέγχους τελευτῶσιν αἰσχρῶς.
Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men?
Ἅδης καὶ ἀπώλεια φανερὰ παρὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ· πῶς οὐχὶ καὶ αἱ καρδίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων;
An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise.
Οὐκ ἀγαπήσει ἀπαίδευτος τοὺς ἐλέγχοντας αὐτόν, μετὰ δὲ σοφῶν οὐχ ὁμιλήσει.
When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, the countenance is sad.
Καρδίας εὐφραινομένης πρόσωπον θάλλει, ἐν δὲ λύπαις οὔσης σκυθρωπάζει.
An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
Καρδία ὀρθὴ ζητεῖ αἴσθησιν, στόμα δὲ ἀπαιδεύτων γνώσεται κακά.
The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet.
Πάντα τὸν χρόνον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τῶν κακῶν προσδέχονται κακὰ, οἱ δὲ ἀγαθοὶ ἡσυχάζουσι διαπαντός.
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear of the Lord.
Κρεῖσσον μικρὰ μερὶς μετὰ φόβου Κυρίου, ἢ θησαυροὶ μεγάλοι μετὰ ἀφοβίας.
Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.
Κρείσσων ξενισμὸς μετὰ λαχάνων πρὸς φιλίαν καὶ χάριν, ἢ παράθεσις μόσχων μετὰ ἔχθρας.
A passionate man stirs up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeases even a rising one.
Source notes (1)
- Gr. future.
Ἀνὴρ θυμώδης παρασκευάζει μάχας· μακρόθυμος δὲ καὶ τὴν μέλλουσαν καταπρᾳΰνει·
A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels; but an ungodly man rather stirs them up.
μακρόθυμος ἀνὴρ κατασβέσει κρίσεις, ὁ δὲ ἀσεβὴς ἐγείρει μᾶλλον.
The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.
Ὁδοὶ ἀεργῶν ἐστρωμέναι ἀκάνθαις, αἱ δὲ τῶν ἀνδρείων τετριμμέναι.
A wise son gladdens his father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
Υἱὸς σοφὸς εὐφραίνει πατέρα, υἱὸς δὲ ἄφρων μυκτηρίζει μητέρα αὐτοῦ.
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
Ἀνοήτου τρίβοι ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος κατευθύνων πορεύεται.
They that honour not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counsellors.
Ὑπερτίθενται λογισμοὺς οἱ μὴ τιμῶντες συνέδρια, ἐν δὲ καρδίαις βουλευομένων μένει βουλή.
A bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common weal.
Source notes (1)
- Or, obey.
Οὐ μὴ ὑπακούσει ὁ κακὸς αὐτῇ, οὐδὲ μὴ εἴπῃ καίριόν τι καὶ καλὸν τῷ κοινῷ.
The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell.
Ὁδοὶ ζωῆς διανοήματα συνετοῦ, ἵνα ἐκκλίνας ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου σωθῇ.
The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.
Οἴκους ὑβριστῶν κατασπᾷ Κύριος, ἐστήρισε δὲ ὅριον χήρας.
An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honour.
Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ λογισμὸς ἄδικος, ἁγνῶν δὲ ῥήσεις σεμναί.
A receiver of bribes destroys himself; but he that hates the receiving of bribes is safe.
Ἐξόλλυσιν ἑαυτὸν ὁ δωρολήπτης, ὁ δὲ μισῶν δώρων λήψεις σώζεται·
[By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away;] but by the fear of the Lord every one departs from evil.
Source notes (1)
- Observe, this is not in the Heb. nor any such doctrine.
ἐλεημοσύναις καὶ πίστεσιν ἀποκαθαίρονται ἁμαρτίαι, τῷ δὲ φόβῳ Κυρίου ἐκκλίνει πᾶς ἀπὸ κακοῦ.
The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness; but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things.
Καρδίαι δικαίων μελετῶσι πίστεις, στόμα δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἀποκρίνεται κακά·
The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord; and through them even enemies become friends.
δεκταὶ παρὰ Κυρίῳ ὁδοὶ ἀνθρώπων δικαίων, διὰ δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ φίλοι γίνονται.
God is far from the ungodly; but he hearkens to the prayers of the righteous.
Μακρὰν ἀπέχει ὁ Θεὸς ἀπὸ ἀσεβῶν, εὐχαῖς δὲ δικαίων ἐπακούει·
Better are small receipts with righteousness, than abundant fruits with unrighteousness.
κρείσσων ὀλίγη λῆψις μετὰ δικαιοσύνης, ἢ πολλὰ γεννήματα μετὰ ἀδικίας.
Let the heart of a man think justly, that his steps may be rightly ordered of God.
Καρδία ἀνδρὸς λογιζέσθω δίκαια, ἵνα ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ διορθωθῇ τὰ διαβήματα αὐτοῦ.
The eye that sees rightly rejoices the heart; and a good report fattens the bones.
Θεωρῶν ὀφθαλμὸς καλὰ εὐφραίνει καρδίαν, φημη δὲ ἀγαθὴ πιαίνει ὀστᾶ.
He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that minds reproofs loves his soul.
Ὃς ἀπωθεῖται παιδείαν, μισεῖ ἑαυτὸν· ὁ δὲ τηρῶν ἐλέγχους, ἀγαπᾷ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ.
The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom; and the highest honour will correspond therewith.
Φόβος Κυρίου παιδεία καὶ σοφία, καὶ ἀρχὴ δόξης ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτῇ.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.