Jamieson–Fausset–Brown CommentaryProverbs 15

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; Psa 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 Is 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 Psa 50:17; Is 1:11.

10. (Compare Pr 10:17). the way--that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13; Psa 119:1).

11. Hell--(Psa 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; Psa 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" (Psa 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; Psa 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 (Psa 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" (Is 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.

33. The fear ... wisdom--Wisdom instructs in true piety. before ... humility--(compare Lu 24:26; 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).