Proverbs chapter 15
The collection of Solomon’s 375 proverbs continues.
THE COLLECTION OF SOLOMON’S PROVERBS CONTINUES
VERSE 1. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
VERSE 2. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
tongue of the wise commends knowledge. Wise people freely share what they know. Read more »
the mouth of fools gush out folly. A foolish person says far too much, revealing how foolish he really is.
VERSE 3. The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
VERSE 4. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
a tree of life. A life of godliness is fed by the tree of life. Read more »
deceit. The Hebrew word is selef. It means subversive, or duplicity.
crushes the spirit. Deceitful words can crush our spirit.
VERSE 5. A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
his father’s correction. Solomon assumes that the parent has good intentions and is not abusive.
However, some parents are abusers. They mask their abusive impulses beneath the guise of disciplining their child.
VERSE 6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
much treasure. In the Old Testament era, some people said if you are holy, God will make you rich. In our day, this view is growing in popularity among professing Christians. Read more »
VERSE 7. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
lips of the wise spread knowledge. Wise people freely share what they know. Read more »
VERSE 8. The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
VERSE 9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
VERSE 10. There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die.
whoever hates reproof shall die. To become wise we must be willing to accept correction from other people. We must be continual learners.
VERSE 11. Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD—how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
Sheol and Abaddon. The New Testament describes heaven and eternal life. But what does the Old Testament say about life after death? Read more »
VERSE 12. A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
scoffer. That is, a mocker.
doesn’t love. Literally, “resents.”
VERSE 13. A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
If our heart is glad, it lights up our face.
VERSE 14. The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
VERSE 15. All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
NAB translation: Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast.
Every day is miserable for the depressed. Feelings of sadness can be counterbalanced. Deliberately thinking good thoughts and saying good words can impact our heart and mind.
a lighthearted man has a continual feast. Rather than give in to negativity, which for some people seems almost inevitable, why not do as the Bible recommends?
The memorizing of Scripture is a great way to implement that teaching.
As lovers and disciples of the LORD God, we are called to develop wholesome thinking patterns. We are to renew our mind. Read more »
VERSE 16. Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
little, with the fear of the LORD. It is better to be a poor person and walk with God than …
great treasure with trouble. It is not good to be rich but not walk with God.
VERSE 17. Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
a dinner of herbs, where love is. It is better to have a sparse meal with people you love, than …
a fattened calf with hatred. It is not good to have sumptuous meals with people you hate.
VERSE 18. A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
VERSE 19. The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
the sluggard. To be called a sluggard is a great biblical insult. Solomon often writes about the sluggardly person. Read more »
VERSE 20. A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
a foolish man despises his mother. But if the mother was abusive, the child will probably need to stay away from the mother.
VERSE 21. Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
VERSE 22. Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Proverbs and from the entire Bible.
Where there is no counsel. Our own plans often seem fine. However, it is best to get input from wise people. Read more »
VERSE 23. Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
VERSE 24. The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
VERSE 25. The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
keep the widow’s borders intact. Land is marked by boundaries. Those boundaries are very important.
In this verse, the LORD God promises to keep a widow’s boundaries from being moved.
That is in contrast to thieves. They would try to steal the land of a widow by moving the boundaries.
Deuteronomy 19:14. You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.
VERSE 26. The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
VERSE 27. He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
greedy. The Hebrew word is bbatsa. It means to cut or break off. It suggests making gain unjustly or by violence.
VERSE 28. The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
VERSE 29. The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
VERSE 30. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
The light of the eyes. The presence of a positive person is helpful and uplifting.
VERSE 31. The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
VERSE 32. He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
VERSE 33. The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
PROVERBS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.