1 A soft H7390 answer H4617 turneth H7725 away wrath: H2534 but grievous H6089 words H1697 stir up H5927 anger. H639
2 The tongue H3956 of the wise H2450 useth knowledge H1847 aright: H3190 but the mouth H6310 of fools H3684 poureth out H5042 foolishness. H200
3 The eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 are in every place, H4725 beholding H6822 the evil H7451 and the good. H2896
4 A wholesome H4832 tongue H3956 is a tree H6086 of life: H2416 but perverseness H5558 therein is a breach H7667 in the spirit. H7307
5 A fool H191 despiseth H5006 his father's H1 instruction: H4148 but he that regardeth H8104 reproof H8433 is prudent. H6191
6 In the house H1004 of the righteous H6662 is much H7227 treasure: H2633 but in the revenues H8393 of the wicked H7563 is trouble. H5916
7 The lips H8193 of the wise H2450 disperse H2219 knowledge: H1847 but the heart H3820 of the foolish H3684 doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice H2077 of the wicked H7563 is an abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but the prayer H8605 of the upright H3477 is his delight. H7522
9 The way H1870 of the wicked H7563 is an abomination H8441 unto the LORD: H3068 but he loveth H157 him that followeth H7291 after righteousness. H6666
10 Correction H4148 is grievous H7451 unto him that forsaketh H5800 the way: H734 and he that hateth H8130 reproof H8433 shall die. H4191
11 Hell H7585 and destruction H11 are before the LORD: H3068 how much more then the hearts H3826 of the children H1121 of men? H120
12 A scorner H3887 loveth H157 not one that reproveth H3198 him: neither will he go H3212 unto the wise. H2450
13 A merry H8056 heart H3820 maketh a cheerful H3190 countenance: H6440 but by sorrow H6094 of the heart H3820 the spirit H7307 is broken. H5218
14 The heart H3820 of him that hath understanding H995 seeketh H1245 knowledge: H1847 but the mouth H6310 H6440 of fools H3684 feedeth H7462 on foolishness. H200
15 All the days H3117 of the afflicted H6041 are evil: H7451 but he that is of a merry H2896 heart H3820 hath a continual H8548 feast. H4960
16 Better H2896 is little H4592 with the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 than great H7227 treasure H214 and trouble H4103 therewith.
17 Better H2896 is a dinner H737 of herbs H3419 where love H160 is, than a stalled H75 ox H7794 and hatred H8135 therewith.
18 A wrathful H2534 man H376 stirreth up H1624 strife: H4066 but he that is slow H750 to anger H639 appeaseth H8252 strife. H7379
19 The way H1870 of the slothful H6102 man is as an hedge H4881 of thorns: H2312 but the way H734 of the righteous H3477 is made plain. H5549
20 A wise H2450 son H1121 maketh a glad H8055 father: H1 but a foolish H3684 man H120 despiseth H959 his mother. H517
21 Folly H200 is joy H8057 to him that is destitute H2638 of wisdom: H3820 but a man H376 of understanding H8394 walketh H3212 uprightly. H3474
22 Without counsel H5475 purposes H4284 are disappointed: H6565 but in the multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 they are established. H6965
23 A man H376 hath joy H8057 by the answer H4617 of his mouth: H6310 and a word H1697 spoken in due season, H6256 how good H2896 is it!
24 The way H734 of life H2416 is above H4605 to the wise, H7919 that he may depart H5493 from hell H7585 beneath. H4295
25 The LORD H3068 will destroy H5255 the house H1004 of the proud: H1343 but he will establish H5324 the border H1366 of the widow. H490
26 The thoughts H4284 of the wicked H7451 are an abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but the words of the pure H2889 are pleasant H5278 words. H561
27 He that is greedy H1214 of gain H1215 troubleth H5916 his own house; H1004 but he that hateth H8130 gifts H4979 shall live. H2421
28 The heart H3820 of the righteous H6662 studieth H1897 to answer: H6030 but the mouth H6310 of the wicked H7563 poureth H5042 out evil things. H7451
29 The LORD H3068 is far H7350 from the wicked: H7563 but he heareth H8085 the prayer H8605 of the righteous. H6662
30 The light H3974 of the eyes H5869 rejoiceth H8055 the heart: H3820 and a good H2896 report H8052 maketh H1878 the bones H6106 fat. H1878
31 The ear H241 that heareth H8085 the reproof H8433 of life H2416 abideth H3885 among H7130 the wise. H2450
32 He that refuseth H6544 instruction H4148 despiseth H3988 his own soul: H5315 but he that heareth H8085 reproof H8433 getteth H7069 understanding. H3820
33 The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is the instruction H4148 of wisdom; H2451 and before H6440 honour H3519 is humility. H6038
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
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.
Proverbs 15:1
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath,
And a bitter word stirreth up anger.
In the second line, the common word for anger ( אף , from the breathing with the nostrils, Proverbs 14:17) is purposely placed, but in the first, that which denotes anger in the highest degree ( חמה from יחם , cogn. חמם , Arab. hamiya , to glow, like שׁנה from ישׁן ): a mild, gentle word turns away the heat of anger ( excandescentiam ), puts it back, cf. Proverbs 25:15. The Dagesh in רּך follows the rule of the דחיק , i.e. , of the close connection of a word terminating with the accented eh, aah, ah with the following word ( Michlol 63b). The same is the meaning of the Latin proverb:
Frangitur ira gravis
Quando est responsio suavis