Proverbs Chapter 15 — The Power of Gentle Speech and Wisdom
Proverbs 15 contrasts the effects of wise and foolish speech while emphasizing that the Lord observes all human actions and intentions.
1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
3The LORD’s eyes are everywhere,
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
5A fool despises his father’s correction,
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
8The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
10There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.
11Sheol*Sheol is the place of the dead. and Abaddon are before the LORD—
12A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
13A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
14The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
15All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
16Better is little, with the fear of the LORD,
17Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,
18A wrathful man stirs up contention,
19The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,
20A wise son makes a father glad,
21Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,
22Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.
24The path of life leads upward for the wise,
25The LORD will uproot the house of the proud,
26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
28The heart of the righteous weighs answers,
29The LORD is far from the wicked,
30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
31The ear that listens to reproof lives,
32He who refuses correction despises his own soul,
33The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer turns away wrath,”
This verse is a foundational principle for conflict resolution and emotional intelligence.
Proverbs 15:3
“The LORD’s eyes are everywhere,”
This highlights the concept of divine omniscience and accountability for all human actions.
Proverbs 15:33
“The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom.”
This serves as a concluding summary for the chapter's focus on the source of true understanding.
Chapter Summary
Proverbs 15 provides a series of contrasts between the wise and the foolish, focusing heavily on the impact of speech. It begins with the famous observation that a gentle answer can diffuse anger. The chapter emphasizes God's omniscience, stating that His eyes are everywhere, watching both the evil and the good. It touches on the importance of discipline, noting that those who ignore correction despise themselves, while those who listen gain understanding. There is also a focus on the internal state of the heart; a glad heart reflects on the face, and it is better to have little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure accompanied by trouble. The text reinforces that the fear of the Lord teaches wisdom and that humility precedes honor, offering practical guidance for daily conduct and relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
It teaches that a gentle answer has the power to turn away wrath, whereas a wrathful man stirs up contention and harsh words provoke anger.
The chapter states that the Lord's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on both the evil and the good, and that even the place of the dead is open before Him.
A gentle tongue is described as a 'tree of life,' suggesting that kind and wise speech brings healing and vitality to those who hear it.
Study Note
This chapter utilizes antithetical parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry where a statement is followed by its opposite to highlight a moral truth.
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