Peace of Our Savior Lutheran Church and Preschool - WELS

Proverbs 15

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
but the mouths of fools spout stupidity.
³ The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
    watching evil people as well as the good.
⁴ A healing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue shatters the spirit.
⁵ A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is sensible.
⁶ The house of the righteous contains great wealth,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the heart of fools—not so.
⁸ A sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination ^[2] to the Lord,
but a prayer of the upright gains his favor.
⁹ The way of a wicked person is repulsive ^[3] to the Lord,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
¹⁰ Harsh discipline waits for anyone who leaves the path,
and a person who hates correction will die.
¹¹ Death and Destruction ^[4] lie open before the Lord—
how much more human hearts!
¹² A scoffer does not love anyone who corrects him.
He will not go to wise people.
¹³ A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
but a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit.
¹⁴ The heart of a discerning person seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
¹⁵ All the days of an oppressed person are evil,
but a cheerful heart enjoys a continuous celebration. ^[5]
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.
¹⁷ Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.
¹⁸ A hothead stirs up a fight,
but a patient person calms a dispute.
¹⁹ The way of a lazy person is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of upright people is a highway.

Proverbs 13

¹ A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
but a scornful son does not listen to a reprimand.
² From the fruit of his mouth a person eats well,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
³ Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life.
Whoever opens his lips carelessly ruins himself.
⁴ The appetite of a lazy person craves things, but he gets nothing.
The appetite of hardworking people is fully satisfied.
⁵ A righteous person hates everything false,
but a wicked person causes disgrace and shame.
⁶ Righteousness guards a person who has integrity,
but wickedness perverts a sinner.
⁷ One person pretends to be rich but has nothing.
Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.
⁸ A man’s riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man does not hear a threat.
⁹ The light of the righteous brings joy,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
¹⁰ Insolence produces only strife,
but wisdom resides with those who take advice.
¹¹ Wealth gained out of thin air ^[1] shrinks,
but wealth accumulated by steady work grows.
¹² Hope delayed makes a heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
¹³ The person who despises a word of instruction will pay the price,
but the person who respects a command will be rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of a wise person is a fountain of life.
It can turn someone away from the snares of death.
¹⁵ Good sense yields grace,
but the way of the treacherous is unchanging. ^[2]
16 Every sensible person acts with knowledge,
but a fool displays stupidity.
¹⁷ A wicked ^[3] messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
¹⁸ A person who ignores discipline ends up with poverty and shame,
but one who conforms to correction will be honored.
¹⁹ A desire that is fulfilled tastes sweet to the soul,
but to fools it is disgusting ^[4] to turn from evil.
²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
²¹ Trouble pursues sinners,
but goodness repays the righteous.
²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
²³ The farmland of the poor may produce much food,
but it may be swept away by injustice.
²⁴ A person who withholds his rod hates his son,
but one who loves him administers discipline promptly.
²⁵ A righteous person eats until his appetite is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is always empty.

Proverbs 14

¹ A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
² Whoever walks in the right way fears the Lord,
but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.
³ In the mouth of a stubborn fool there is a proud rod, ^[5]
but the lips of the wise protect them.
⁴ Without cattle the manger is empty,
but a great harvest is gained by the strength of an ox.
⁵ A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes lies.
⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
⁷ Keep away from a foolish person,
since you will not learn anything from his lips.
⁸ The wisdom of a sensible ^[6] person is that he understands his way,
but the stupidity of fools is deceptive. ^[7]
9 Fools scoff at the idea of guilt, ^[8]
but favor is found among the upright.
¹⁰ A heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger can share its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will thrive.
¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it is the road to death.
¹³ Even in laughter a heart can ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
¹⁴ A backslider ^[9] will be satisfied with his ways, ^[10]
and a good man will be satisfied with his.
¹⁵ A gullible person trusts anything,
but a sensible person considers his steps.
¹⁶ A wise person fears and turns from evil,
but a fool is rash and overconfident.
¹⁷ A short-tempered person acts foolishly,
and a schemer is hated.
¹⁸ Gullible people inherit stupidity,
but sensible people embrace knowledge.
¹⁹ Evil people will bow down to good people,
and wicked people will bow at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰ A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,
but those who love a rich person are many.
²¹ A person who despises his neighbor is sinning,
but one who is kind to the oppressed is blessed.

Proverbs 12

¹ A person who loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.
² A good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
but he will condemn a schemer.
³ A person cannot be made secure by wickedness,
but the roots of the righteous will never be uprooted.
⁴ A wife with strong character is a crown to her husband,
but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.
⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouths of the upright will save them.
⁷ Wicked people are overthrown, and they are no more,
but the house of the righteous continues to stand.
⁸ A person is praised for the good sense that he speaks,
but a person with a twisted heart will be despised.
⁹ Better to be underestimated and have a servant
than to pretend to be wealthy and lack bread.
¹⁰ A righteous person understands the needs of his livestock,
but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹ A person who works his land will have enough food,
but whoever pursues fantasies lacks sense.
¹² A wicked man covets the fortress ^[3] of evil people,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ The rebellion on his lips is a trap for an evil person,
but a righteous person gets out of trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his lips a person is filled with good,
and the labor of a person’s hands returns to him.
¹⁵ The way of a stubborn fool seems correct to him,
but whoever listens to advice is wise.
¹⁶ A stubborn fool immediately lets his annoyance be known,
but a sensible person overlooks an insult.
¹⁷ Whoever breathes the truth proclaims righteousness,
but a lying witness is deceitful.
¹⁸ Some people wield reckless words like the thrusts of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips are established forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
²⁰ Deceit lies in the heart of those who plot evil,
but for those who promote peace there will be joy.
²¹ No disaster will strike a righteous person,
but wicked people are filled with trouble.
²² Lying lips are disgusting to the Lord,
but those who act truthfully gain his favor.
²³ A man who is shrewd conceals his knowledge,
but the hearts of fools broadcast stupidity.
²⁴ Hardworking hands will rule,
but laziness results in forced labor. ^[4]
25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word brings him joy.
²⁶ A righteous person guides his neighbor, ^[5]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
²⁷ A lazy person does not roast his game,
but a diligent person uses his wealth wisely.
²⁸ In the path of righteousness there is life,
and there is no death in following this path. ^[6]

Proverbs 10

¹ The proverbs of Solomon.

Proverbs 11

¹ Dishonest scales are disgusting ^[9] to the Lord
but an accurate weight wins his approval.
² When arrogance comes, shame follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.
³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the dishonesty of the treacherous destroys them.

¹ Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
² She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has already set her table.
³ She has sent out her servant girls.
She calls from the highest point in the city,
⁴ “Whoever is naïve, ^[1] let him turn in here.”
To someone who lacks sense she says,
⁵ “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine that I have mixed.
⁶ Abandon your naïve ways and live.
Travel the road to understanding.”

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning ^[2] of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,
¹¹ because through me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage.
But if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.