16 Better is little with the fear of Jehovah than great store and disquietude therewith.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes? The sleep of the labourer is sweet, whether he have eaten little or much; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that it had cost me to do [them]; and behold, all was vanity and pursuit of the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he will be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun. For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Pr 15:1-33.
1. soft—tender or gentle.
turneth … wrath—from any one.
stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth … aright—commends knowledge by its proper use.
poureth out—utters abundantly (Pr 12:23), and so disgusts others.
3. beholding—watching (compare Pr 5:21; Ps 66:7).
4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language.
tree of life—(Pr 3:18; 11:30).
perverseness therein—cross, ill-natured language.
breach … spirit—(compare Isa 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.
5. (Compare Pr 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18).
is prudent—acts discreetly.
6. treasure—implying utility.
trouble—vexation and affliction.
7. (Compare Pr 10:20, 21).
heart … not so—not right, or vain.
8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer—are acts of worship.
way … followeth … righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Ps 50:17; Isa 1:11.
10. (Compare Pr 10:17).
the way—that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13; Ps 119:1).
11. Hell—(Ps 16:10).
destruction—or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.
12. (Compare Pr 9:8).
go unto the wise—to be instructed.
13. maketh … countenance—or, "benefits the countenance."
spirit is broken—and so the countenance is sad.
14. (Compare Pr 10:21, 22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).
15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition.
evil—sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.
16. trouble—agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).
17. dinner—or, "allowance" (2Ki 25:30)—
of herbs—and that the plainest.
and hatred—(compare Pr 10:12, 18).
18. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32).
19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a
plain [and open] way—literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Ps 1:3).
20. (Compare Pr 10:1).
21. walketh uprightly—and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6; 10:23).
22. Without counsel—or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.
23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.
24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.
25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22; 12:7).
border—or, "boundary for possessions" (Ps 78:54).
26. are pleasant words—that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8, 9).
27. (Compare Pr 11:17). Avarice brings trouble to him and his.
hateth gifts—or, "bribes" (Ex 23:8; Ps 15:5), and is not avaricious.
28. (Compare Pr 15:14; 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.
29. far … wicked—in His love and favor (Ps 22:11; 119:155).
30. light of the eyes—(Pr 13:9). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so
good report—or, "doctrine" (Isa 28:9; 53:1),
maketh … fat—or, "gives prosperity" (Pr 3:13-17; 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first.
31, 32. (Compare Pr 10:17).
reproof of life—which leads to life.
abideth … wise—is numbered among them.
32. refuseth—or, "neglects," "passes by" (Pr 1:25; 4:15).
despiseth … soul—so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.
33. The fear … wisdom—Wisdom instructs in true piety.
before … humility—(compare Lu 24:26; 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).