Proverbs15
New King James Version
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.
11 Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24 The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy.
31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
Study
Proverbs 15Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 15. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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