Proverbs 15

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

Aright - Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully. Poureth out - Plentifully, continually, and vehemently, as a fountain does waters.

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

Wholesome - Which utters sound and useful counsels. Tree of life - Is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers. Perverseness - False or corrupt speeches. A breach - Disturbs and wounds the spirits, both of the speaker and hearers.

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

Revenues - Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble.

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

Disperse - Freely communicate to others what they know.

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

Sacrifice - All the religious services, yea, the most costly; one kind being put for all the rest. Prayer - The cheapest and meanest services.

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

Destruction - The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation.

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

Foolishness - Wickedness is meat and drink to them.

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

Afflicted - Of the troubled in mind. Evil - Tedious and uncomfortable. Chearful - Heb. of a good heart.

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

Trouble - Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience.

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

An hedge - As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties. Plain - Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties.

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

Counsel - When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others.

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

The answer - By a wise, or good and seasonable answer.

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

The way - The way a wise man takes to obtain life, is to place his heart, and treasure, and conversation on things above.

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

The proud - Of the mighty oppressors. The border - The estate, the border being often used, for the land within the borders.

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

Pleasant - Acceptable to God.

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

Troubleth - Brings God’s curse upon himself and family. Gifts - Bribes given to corrupt judgment. Live - Shall preserve himself and family from ruin.

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

Studieth - He speaks considerately. The mouth - Not the heart; for he rashly speaks what comes into his mouth, without the direction of his heart or conscience.

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

A good report - A good name. Fat - Not only chears a man for the present, but gives him such stable comfort as revives his soul, and gives vigour to his body.

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

The ear - The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise.

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

The instruction - Doth instruct men in true wisdom.