Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 15 continues the antithetic-Solomonic-proverbs with high concentration on speech-ethics and divine-observation. Verse 3's 'the eyes of the LORD are in every place' supplies one of the Psalter-and-Proverbs' strongest divine-omniscience declarations.
Notable Variants
15:1 'a soft answer turns away wrath' the classical conflict-de-escalation axiom; 15:3 'eyes of the LORD are in every place' divine-omniscience; 15:8 'sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, but the prayer of the upright is his delight' — sacrifice-vs-prayer.
Structural Notes
MT Prov 15 = LXX Prov 15. 33 verses.
A gentle answer turns away fury, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
'A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger' tracks MT. SOFT-ANSWER WISDOM — the classical conflict-de-escalation proverb.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
'The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly' tracks MT.
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, watching the wicked and the good.
'The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good' tracks MT. EYES-OF-LORD-EVERYWHERE divine-omniscience. Hebrews 4:13 ('no creature is hidden from his sight') and 2 Chronicles 16:9 ('the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth') extend.
A healing tongue is a tree of life, but crookedness in it is a crushing of the spirit.
'A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit' tracks MT. TREE-OF-LIFE TONGUE — third-Proverbs Tree of Life reference (cf. 3:18, 11:30).
A fool rejects his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction becomes shrewd.
'A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent' tracks MT.
In the house of the righteous is great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
'In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked' tracks MT.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the heart of fools does not.
'The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools' tracks MT.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
'The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him' tracks MT. SACRIFICE-OF-WICKED ABOMINATION. Isa 1:11–17 ('I am full of burnt offerings') extends the critique of wicked-sacrifice.
The way of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
'The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness' tracks MT.
Harsh discipline awaits the one who abandons the path; whoever hates correction will die.
'There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die' tracks MT.
The grave and the place of destruction lie open before the LORD — how much more the hearts of human beings!
'Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!' tracks MT. SHEOL-AND-ABADDON-OPEN-TO-LORD — divine-sight through-all-depths.
A scoffer does not love being corrected; he will not go to the wise.
'A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise' tracks MT.
A joyful heart brightens the face, but a grieving heart crushes the spirit.
'A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed' tracks MT.
The heart of the discerning seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
'The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly' tracks MT.
All the days of the afflicted are hard, but a cheerful heart has a never-ending feast.
'All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast' tracks MT. CONTINUAL-FEAST — interior-joy as ongoing-celebration.
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
'Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it' tracks MT. BETTER-LITTLE-WITH-FEAR-OF-LORD. 1 Timothy 6:6 ('godliness with contentment is great gain') extends.
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
'Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it' tracks MT. HERBS-WITH-LOVE better. Peace-of-love outranks abundance-without-love.
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the patient person calms a dispute.
'A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention' tracks MT.
The way of the lazy person is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a clear highway.
'The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway' tracks MT.
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.
'A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother' tracks MT. // Prov 10:1 echo.
Foolishness is entertainment to the senseless, but a person of understanding walks a straight course.
'Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead' tracks MT.
Plans fail without consultation, but with many advisors they succeed.
'Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed' tracks MT. MANY-ADVISERS // Prov 11:14, 24:6.
A person finds joy in giving a good answer, and a word at the right time — how good it is!
'To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!' tracks MT.
The path of life leads upward for the wise, turning him away from the grave below.
'The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath' tracks MT. PATH-OF-LIFE-UPWARD — Matthew 7:14's 'narrow is the way that leads to life' extends.
The LORD tears down the house of the proud but secures the widow's boundary.
'The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries' tracks MT. Protection-of-widow's-land — vulnerable-class defense. Deuteronomy 19:14 (not moving boundary-stones) extends.
Evil plans are detestable to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.
'The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure' tracks MT.
Whoever chases dishonest gain brings trouble on his household, but the one who hates bribes will live.
'Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live' tracks MT.
The heart of the righteous considers before answering, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
'The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things' tracks MT.
The LORD keeps far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
'The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous' tracks MT. Prayer-of-righteous-heard. James 5:16 ('the prayer of a righteous person has great power') extends.
Bright eyes bring joy to the heart, and good news strengthens the bones.
'The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones' tracks MT.
The ear that listens to life-giving correction will dwell among the wise.
'The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise' tracks MT.
Whoever refuses discipline despises his own life, but whoever listens to correction gains understanding.
'Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence' tracks MT.
The fear of the LORD is the discipline of wisdom, and before honor comes humility.
'The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor' tracks MT. HUMILITY-BEFORE-HONOR. // Prov 18:12 echo.