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Proverbs 15 (MSG)

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¹ A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. ² Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. ³ GOD doesn't miss a thing-- he's alert to good and evil alike. ⁴ Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. ⁵ Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense. ⁶ The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt. ⁷ Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow--there's nothing to them. ⁸ GOD can't stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers. ⁹ A life frittered away disgusts GOD; he loves those who run straight for the finish line. ¹⁰ It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules. ¹¹ Even hell holds no secrets from GOD-- do you think he can't read human hearts? ¹² Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women. ¹³ A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. ¹⁴ An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies. ¹⁵ A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song. ¹⁶ A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. ¹⁷ Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate. ¹⁸ Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. ¹⁹ The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road. ²⁰ Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents. ²¹ The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it. ²² Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed. ²³ Congenial conversation--what a pleasure! The right word at the right time--beautiful! ²⁴ Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful-- it's a clean about-face from descent into hell. ²⁵ GOD smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing. ²⁶ GOD can't stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display. ²⁷ A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live. ²⁸ Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse. ²⁹ GOD keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people. ³⁰ A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. ³¹ Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women. ³² An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious. ³³ Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living-- first you learn humility, then you experience glory.