Proverbs 15 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 15

15:1   A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2   The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3   The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4   A gentle¹ tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5   A fool despises his father’s instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6   In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7   The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.²
8   The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
    but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9   The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
    but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10   There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    whoever hates reproof will die.
11   Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
    how much more the hearts of the children of man!
12   A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
13   A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14   The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15   All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16   Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
17   Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18   A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19   The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20   A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
21   Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22   Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
23   To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and a word in season, how good it is!
24   The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25   The LORD tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26   The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
    but gracious words are pure.
27   Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
28   The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
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 good news refreshes³ the bones.
31   The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32   Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33   The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.

Footnotes

[1] 15:4 Or healing
[2] 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
[3] 15:30 Hebrew makes fat

Commentary

v1-2: Disagreements frequently arise, and people get angry or frustrated, see also v18. A person's words are powerful, and can affect the situation, either by turning away wrath, or by stirring up wrath.

Knowledge, although good, must be used wisely. Facts need careful application.

v3: God is all-seeing, and we are accountable to Him, 16.2.

v4: The blessing of godly lips.

v5: The wise son receives his father's discipline; Heb 12.7-8 makes it clear that discipline is an essential aspect of a father's responsibility towards his son. It is a fool who will not receive discipline.

v6: A life of righteousness brings great treasure. The wicked finds his wages are trouble and, ultimately, death.

v7: The blessing of godly words, which spread blessing to others.

v8-9: Hard words about the wicked, but the way of transgressors is hard, see v26, 29; 16.5. The word translated "detests" means an abomination, something disgusting, and therefore rejected by God.

The Lord loves the devotion and obedience of the righteous, and his upright walk, 14.2. The key is the desire of the heart, out of which comes a happy and God-centred life.

v10: Necessity of correction, see v31-33.

v11: The Lord who knows all things, and none can hide from Him, especially the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb 4.12-13.

v12: The ungodly do not recognise the value of reproofs, nor do they respect the reprover.

v13-15: How is your heart? The heart should be happy and cheerful, but also discerning. Our joy must be based on truth, and then the cheerful face will be true.

v16-17: The spiritual preferred above the material; the fear of the Lord, love, quietness (17.1) are all better than riches.

"The proverb only imagines two ways in the world, one that moves from wellbeing to caring, the other that moves from franticness to having and gaining the whole world and finishing supper with a diminished soul." (Walter Brueggeman, The Threat of Life)

v18: See note at v1-2; our aim should not be to stir up quarrels.

v19: The straight course of the godly man, see v21, 24, which also refer to such a path.

v20: Parents have a responsibility to teach their children to walk in the ways of truth; where a child follows this standard, there is joy shared. Where the child rejects the ways of his parents, he is a fool.

v21: The straight course, the way of wise judgment and understanding.

v22: The need for wise counsel. Solomon's son, Rehoboam, erred in this respect.

v23: A word in season is a great blessing. In Is 50.4-5 refers to an instructed tongue, bringing a word in season. This demands being in the place where God can speak to us.

v24: The upward and downward paths.

v25: The blessing or cursing of the Lord on a person's house and property.

v26: The Lord has already expressed His opinion of the sacrifice and the ways of the wicked; here his very thoughts are an abomination to God.

v27: Some seek selfish gain, often by dubious means. The wise man rejects such ways of gain

v28: The righteous man weighs up his response first in his heart, before speaking out.

v29: The Lord has no time for the prayer of the wicked, but His ear is open to the prayer of the righteous.

v30: Bringing joy to others, with a look, with a word.

v31: The wise man listens to rebuke, and such can turn a man from the pathway to death.

v32: The folly of ignoring discipline.

v33: Through the fear of the Lord we gain spiritual character.