Proverbs 15:11-20
Proverbs 15:11-20 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 The Message (MSG)
Even hell holds no secrets from GOD— do you think he can’t read human hearts? Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women. A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies. A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song. A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 King James Version (KJV)
Hell and destruction are before the LORD: How much more then the hearts of the children of men? A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: Neither will he go unto the wise. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble therewith. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, How much more the hearts of men! A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise. A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly. All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 New Century Version (NCV)
The LORD knows what is happening in the world of the dead, so he surely knows the thoughts of the living. Those who make fun of wisdom don’t like to be corrected; they will not ask the wise for advice. Happiness makes a person smile, but sadness can break a person’s spirit. People with understanding want more knowledge, but fools just want more foolishness. Every day is hard for those who suffer, but a happy heart is like a continual feast. It is better to be poor and respect the LORD than to be wealthy and have much trouble. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 American Standard Version (ASV)
Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah; How much more then the hearts of the children of men! A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast. Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 New International Version (Anglicised) (NIVUK)
Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD – how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. Better a dish 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the LORD— How much more the hearts and inner motives of the children of men. [Job 26:6; Ps 139:8; Rev 9:2; 20:1, 2] A scoffer [unlike a wise man] resents one who rebukes him and tries to teach him; Nor will he go to the wise [for counsel and instruction]. A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face, But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed. [Prov 17:22] The mind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it, But the mouth of the [stubborn] fool feeds on foolishness. [Is 32:6] All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances]. Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble with it. [Ps 37:16; Prov 16:8; 1 Tim 6:6] 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the LORD. How much more does he know the human heart! Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise. A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. 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.
Proverbs 15:11-20 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Even hell itself holds no secrets from the Lord God, for before his eyes, all is exposed— and so much more the heart of every human being. The know-it-all never esteems the one who tries to correct him. He refuses to seek good advice from the wise. A cheerful heart puts a smile on your face, but a broken heart leads to depression. Lovers of God hunger after truth, but those without understanding feast on foolishness and don’t even realize it. Everything seems to go wrong when you feel weak and depressed. But when you choose to be cheerful, every day will bring you more and more joy and fullness. It’s much better to live simply, surrounded in holy awe and worship of God, than to have great wealth with a home full of trouble. 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.