Proverbs15
New American Standard
1A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
6Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.
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 to the Lord, But He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
10There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way; One who hates a rebuke will die.
11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of mankind!
12A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him; He will not go to the wise.
13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15All the days of the needy are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.
17Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love, Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
18A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
19The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense, But a person of understanding walks straight.
22Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.
23A person has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise, So that he may keep away from Sheol below.
25The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, But He will set the boundary of the widow.
26Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure.
27He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news refreshes the bones.
31One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke Will stay among the wise.
32One who neglects discipline rejects himself, But one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding.
33The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 15.
v1
A right cause will be better pleaded with meekness than with passion. Nothing stirs up anger like grievous words.
v2
He that has knowledge, is to use it aright, for the good of others.
v3
Secret sins, services, and sorrows, are under God's eye. This speaks comfort to saints, and terror to sinners.
Key Words
רַךְ: tender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weak
מַעֲנֶה: a reply (favorable or contradictory)
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
חֵמָה: heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
עֶצֶב: an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
אַף: properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
לָשׁוֹן: the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
חָכָם: wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
Cross References
Proverbs 15Direct parallel contrasting the wrathful man with one who is slow to anger.
Supported by JFB
Historical illustration of Abigail's soft answer turning away David's fierce wrath.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal parallel showing Sheol/destruction (Abaddon) are naked and open before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel on the physical and spiritual impact of a merry heart versus a broken spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Echoes the directive to set affections on things above rather than things beneath.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the concept of wisdom and a wholesome tongue as a 'tree of life'.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel on God's abomination of external sacrifices devoid of internal righteousness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament parallel affirming all things are naked and opened to the eyes of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological parallel of the scorner who hates reproof and refuses to come to the light.
Supported by JFB
New Testament equivalent: godliness with contentment is great gain, matching 'better is little'.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identical proverb framing the contrast between a wise son and a foolish son.
Supported by JFB
Echoes how the lips of the righteous feed and disperse knowledge to many.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel on preferring a dry morsel in quietness over a house full of strife.
Supported by JFB
Parallels God's destruction of the wicked's house versus establishing the righteous.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the warning that he who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
Supported by Matthew Henry