Proverbs15
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
3 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path 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 one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
31 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. 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