Proverbs 15:17-24
Proverbs 15:17-24 The Message (MSG)
Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate. Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road. Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents. The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it. Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed. Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful! Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful— it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
Proverbs 15:17-24 King James Version (KJV)
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain. A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish man despiseth his mother. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: But a man of understanding walketh uprightly. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: And a word spoken in due season, how good is it! The way of life is above to the wise, That he may depart from hell beneath.
Proverbs 15:17-24 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute. The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight. Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed. A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.
Proverbs 15:17-24 New Century Version (NCV)
It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you than to eat meat with those who hate you. People with quick tempers cause trouble, but those who control their tempers stop a quarrel. A lazy person’s life is like a patch of thorns, but an honest person’s life is like a smooth highway. Wise children make their father happy, but foolish children disrespect their mother. A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish, but someone with understanding does what is right. Plans fail without good advice, but they succeed with the advice of many others. People enjoy giving good advice. Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing. Wise people’s lives get better and better. They avoid whatever would cause their death.
Proverbs 15:17-24 American Standard Version (ASV)
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother. Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going. Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it! To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.
Proverbs 15:17-24 New International Version (NIV)
Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
Proverbs 15:17-24 New King James Version (NKJV)
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred. A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.
Proverbs 15:17-24 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present Than a fattened ox served with hatred. [Prov 17:1] A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes. The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother. Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense, But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight]. [Eph 5:15] Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they are established and succeed. A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is! The [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise, That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below. [Phil 3:20; Col 3:1, 2]
Proverbs 15:17-24 New Living Translation (NLT)
A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway. Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother. Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path. Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.
Proverbs 15:17-24 The Passion Translation (TPT)
It’s much better to have a meal of vegetables surrounded with love and grace than a steak where there is hate. A touchy, hot-tempered man picks a fight, but the calm, patient man knows how to silence strife. Nothing seems to work right for the lazy man, but life seems smooth and easy when your heart is virtuous. When a son learns wisdom, a father’s heart is glad. But the man who shames his mother is a foolish son. The senseless fool treats life like a joke, but the one with living-understanding makes good choices. Your plans will fall apart right in front of you if you fail to get good advice. But if you first seek out multiple counselors, you’ll watch your plans succeed. Everyone enjoys giving great advice. But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time! The life-paths of the prudent lift them progressively heavenward, delivering them from the death spirals that keep tugging them downward.
Proverbs 15:17-24 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.