Judaism
Proverbs 15
Text
A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit.
A fool despiseth his father’s correction; But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish is not stedfast.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But He loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; And he that hateth reproof shall die.
The nether-world and Destruction are before the LORD; How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
A scorner loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
The heart of him that hath discernment seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
All the days of the poor 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 turmoil therewith.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
A wrathful man stirreth up discord; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
The way of the sluggard is as though hedged by thorns; But the path of the upright is even.
A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; But a man of discernment walketh straightforwards.
For want of counsel purposes are frustrated; 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!
The path of life goeth upward for the wise, that he may depart from the nether-world beneath.
The LORD will pluck up the house of the proud; But He will establish the border of the widow.
The thoughts of wickedness are an abomination to the LORD; But words of pleasantness are pure.
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth gifts shall live.
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
The LORD is far from the wicked; But He heareth the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And a good report maketh the bones fat.
The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour goeth humility.
Text: The Holy Scriptures, Jewish Publication Society (1917), public domain, via Sefaria.
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Dhammapada 129 (trans. Bhikkhu Sujato)
“All tremble at the rod, all fear death. Treating others like oneself, neither kill nor incite to kill.”
Impermanence & Letting Go
Dhammapada 20:277 (trans. F. Max Müller)
“‘All created things perish,’ he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way to purity.”
Tao Te Ching 76 (trans. James Legge)
“Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong. (So it is with) all things. Trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 (trans. Edwin Arnold)
“Nay, but as when one layeth His worn-out robes away, And taking new ones, sayeth, "These will I wear to-day!" So putteth by the spirit Lightly its garb of flesh, And passeth to inherit A residence afresh.”
The Path to Wisdom
Dhammapada 20:282 (trans. Bhikkhu Sujato)
“From meditation springs wisdom, without meditation, wisdom ends.”
Analects 2:11 (trans. James Legge)
“If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge, so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.”
Tao Te Ching 33 (trans. James Legge)
“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.”
Quran 39:9
“Are those who know equal with those who know not?”
Good vs Evil / Light vs Darkness
Yasna 30:3
“Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action.”
John 1:5
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
Dhammapada 2 (trans. Bhikkhu Sujato)
“Intention is the leader of things; intention is first, they’re made by intention. If with pure intent you speak or act, happiness follows you like a shadow that never leaves.”
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16 (trans. Edwin Arnold)
“The Doors of Hell Are threefold, whereby men to ruin pass, The door of Lust, the door of Wrath, the door Of Avarice. Let a man shun those three!”