Proverbs

Proverbs 15

33 verses · Wisdom · Old Testament

1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly. 3Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. 6In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. 8The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. 10There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die. 11Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! 12A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit. 14The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. 16Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. 17Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. 18A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. 19The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. 22Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. 23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! 24The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. 25Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact. 26Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. 27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. 28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. 29Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. 31The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. 32He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. 33The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

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4 commentators · 110 notes on this chapter

Matthew HenryEnglish Puritan / Nonconformist · 1708–171431

Writes as a pastor rather than a critic. Expect devotional and practical application over historical or linguistic analysis, read through a Reformed covenantal frame — and expect the Old Testament to be read forward toward Christ throughout.

Why this voice is here: The most widely read English commentary for three centuries. Included as a baseline: where Henry and a modern voice diverge, the divergence itself is usually the interesting part.

v. 2

Note, 1. A good heart by the tongue becomes very useful. He that has knowledge is not only to enjoy it, for his own entertainment, but to use it, to use it aright, for the edification of others; and it is the tongue that must make use of it in pious…

v. 3

The great truths of divinity are of great use to enforce the precepts of morality, and none more than this - That the eye of God is always upon the children of men. 1. An eye to discern all, not only from which nothing can be concealed, but by which every…

v. 4

Note, 1. A good tongue is healing, healing to wounded consciences by comforting them, to sin-sick souls by convincing them, to peace and love when it is broken by accommodating differences, compromising matters in variance, and reconciling parties at…

John GillParticular Baptist / High Calvinist · 1746–176333

The most exhaustive and the most doctrinally committed here. Expect high — even supralapsarian — Calvinism applied consistently, and unusually heavy use of rabbinic and Talmudic sources for Jewish context. Where a passage bears on election or the will, Gill will read it in one direction, and knowing that in advance is the point.

Why this voice is here: The strongest Calvinist reading available in the public domain, and the best on Jewish background. Read alongside Clarke, not instead of him — between them you get both sides of the argument.

v. 1

A soft answer turneth away wrath,.... Mild words, gentle expressions, delivered with kindness and tenderness, humility and submission; these will work upon a man's passions, weaken his resentments, and break and scatter the storm of wrath raised in his…

v. 2

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright,.... As the heart of a wise and good man is filled with useful knowledge, civil, moral, spiritual, and evangelical; so he takes care to communicate it, at proper times and seasons, in proper places, and to proper…

v. 3

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,.... Which are expressive of his omniscience, of the full, clear, distinct, and perfect knowledge, which he has of all creatures and things; so that nothing is hid from him, but all open and manifest to him; as they are…

Keil & DelitzschGerman Lutheran, conservative-critical · 1861–187515

The technical one, and Old Testament only. Expect Hebrew grammar, textual argument, and direct engagement with nineteenth-century critical scholarship — closer to a scholarly apparatus than a devotional read. Where a modern critic claims a text is late or composite, this is where the conservative counter-argument was made.

Why this voice is here: Old Testament only, and heavy going — but the place to look when someone asserts a passage cannot mean what it appears to.

v. 1–6

We take these verses together as forming a group which begins with a proverb regarding the good and evil which flows from the tongue, and closes with a proverb regarding the treasure in which blessing is found, and that in which no blessing is found. Pro 15:1…

v. 7–17

A second series which begins with a proverb of the power of human speech, and closes with proverbs of the advantages and disadvantages of wealth. Pro 15:7 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; But the direction is wanting to the heart of fools. It is…

v. 18

Two proverbs of two different classes of men, each second line of which terminates with a catchword having a similar sound (וארך, וארח). 18 A passionate man stirreth up strife, And one who is slow to anger allayeth contention. Pro 28:25 and Pro 29:22 are…

Jamieson, Fausset & BrownScottish Presbyterian / Reformed · 187131

The concise option. Three authors split the canon, so the voice shifts between sections. Expect brief, sober, conservative notes that resolve difficulties rather than dwelling on them — useful for orientation, thinner than Gill or Clarke where a passage is genuinely contested.

Why this voice is here: The quickest way to see what the mainstream Reformed reading of a passage is. Start here, then go to Gill or Clarke when it matters.

v. 2

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

v. 3

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

v. 4

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

World English Bible — Public domain