Proverbs 15

¹A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Pr 15:1-33. 1. soft--tender or gentle. turneth ... wrath--from any one. stir up--as a smouldering fire is excited.

²The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

2. useth ... aright--commends knowledge by its proper use. poureth out--utters abundantly (Pr 12:23), and so disgusts others.

³The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

3. beholding--watching (compare Pr 5:21; Psa 66:7).

⁴A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

4. A wholesome tongue--(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life--(Pr 3:18; 11:30). perverseness therein--cross, ill-natured language. breach ... spirit--(compare Is 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.

⁵A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

5. (Compare Pr 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18). is prudent--acts discreetly.

⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

6. treasure--implying utility. trouble--vexation and affliction.

⁷The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

7. (Compare Pr 10:20, 21). heart ... not so--not right, or vain.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

8-9. The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship. way ... followeth ... righteousness--denote conduct. God’s regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psa 50:17; Is 1:11.

¹⁰Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

10. (Compare Pr 10:17). the way--that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13; Psa 119:1).

¹¹Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

11. Hell--(Psa 16:10). destruction--or, “Abaddon,” the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men’s hearts.

¹²A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

12. (Compare Pr 9:8). go unto the wise--to be instructed.

¹³A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

13. maketh ... countenance--or, “benefits the countenance.” spirit is broken--and so the countenance is sad.

¹⁴The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

14. (Compare Pr 10:21, 22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).

¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition. evil--sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.

¹⁶Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

16. trouble--agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).

¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

17. dinner--or, “allowance” (2Ki 25:30)-- of herbs--and that the plainest. and hatred--(compare Pr 10:12, 18).

¹⁸A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

18. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32).

¹⁹The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, “a highway,” by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Psa 1:3).

²⁰A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

20. (Compare Pr 10:1).

²¹Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

21. walketh uprightly--and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6; 10:23).

²²Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

22. Without counsel--or, “deliberation,” implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.

²³A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.

²⁴The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.

²⁵The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

25. The most desolate who have God’s aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22; 12:7). border--or, “boundary for possessions” (Psa 78:54).

²⁶The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

26. are pleasant words--that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8, 9).

²⁷He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

27. (Compare Pr 11:17). Avarice brings trouble to him and his. hateth gifts--or, “bribes” (Ex 23:8; Psa 15:5), and is not avaricious.

²⁸The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

28. (Compare Pr 15:14; 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.

²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

29. far ... wicked--in His love and favor (Psa 22:11; 119:155).

³⁰The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

30. light of the eyes--(Pr 13:9). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so good report--or, “doctrine” (Is 28:9; 53:1), maketh ... fat--or, “gives prosperity” (Pr 3:13-17; 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first.

³¹The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

³²He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

31-32. (Compare Pr 10:17). reproof of life--which leads to life. abideth ... wise--is numbered among them.

³³The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

33. The fear ... wisdom--Wisdom instructs in true piety. before ... humility--(compare Lu 24:26; 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).