Liars, Chancers, and Cheats

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Listen! you Liars, Chancers, and Cheats!

Proverbs 15

1

 A gentle answer turns away wrath,

*But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,

*But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

3 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.

4 

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

*But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

5 

*A fool rejects his father’s discipline,

But he who regards reproof is sensible.

6 

Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,

*But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

7 

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

*But the hearts of fools are not so.

8 

*The sacrifice of the wicked 

is an abomination to the Lord,

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9 

*The way of the wicked is 

an abomination to the Lord,

But He loves one who pursues righteousness.

10 

*Grievous punishment is 

for him who forsakes the way;

He who hates reproof will die.

11 

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,

How much more the hearts of men!

12 

*A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,

He will not go to the wise.

13 

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,

*But when the heart is sad, 

the spirit is broken.

14 

The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,

*But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

15 

*All the days of the afflicted are bad,

But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

*Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

17 

Better is a dish of vegetables where love is

*Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

18 

*A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

19 

*The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,

But the path of the upright is a highway.

20 

A wise son makes a father glad,

*But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 

*Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,

But a man of understanding walks straight.

22 

*Without consultation, plans are frustrated,

But with many counselors they succeed.

23 

A man has joy in an apt answer,

And how delightful is a timely word!

24 

The path of life leads upward for the wise

That he may keep away from Sheol below.

25 

*The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 

*Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

But pleasant words are pure.

27 

*He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

28 

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

*But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 

*The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 

Bright eyes gladden the heart;

Good news puts fat on the bones.

31 

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof

Will dwell among the wise.

32 

*He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

33 

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.

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