Proverbs Challenge – Chapter 15

A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

A [a]wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But he who [b]receives correction is prudent.

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

The lips of the wise [c]disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.

10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.

11 Hell[d] and [e]Destruction are before the Lord;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful [f]countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of [g]herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of [h]discernment,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken [i]in due season, how good it is!

24 The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from [j]hell below.

25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones [k]healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Lit. healing
  2. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps
  3. Proverbs 15:7 spread
  4. Proverbs 15:11 Or Sheol
  5. Proverbs 15:11 Heb. Abaddon
  6. Proverbs 15:13 face
  7. Proverbs 15:17 Or vegetables
  8. Proverbs 15:21 Lit. heart
  9. Proverbs 15:23 Lit. in its time
  10. Proverbs 15:24 Or Sheol
  11. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. fat

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. ADEOSUN OLUGBEMI OLAGOKE

    Proverb chapter 15
    The opening of the chapter is on effect of our response
    To issues of life either in anger or calmness.
    Vs 2 talk about wisdom in use of knowledge
    Vs 3 God sees the wicked and good person- non is hide from God.
    Vs 4 allowing corruption into our life and mouth makes us bad ECC 10:1 says a little folly makes one with wisdom stink like dead flies in ointment of apothecary.
    Vs5 attitude of the prudent and fool revealed here
    Vs 6 open our eyes into result of righteousness and foolishness.in a nutshell this is a collection of exposure, enlightenment,guidance on various issues of life to help us navigate our ways in life properly and know how and how not to relate to others,things that glading the heart of God Almighty our Father and The various result of several actions and character like foolishness, godliness proudness,etc
    We all are to glean and inculcate good life styles from this chapter.may God help us.

  2. Oluwaseun

    In proverbs 15 I learnt that
    Wise people want others to understand wisdom because they recognize that its value is far beyond anything this world has to offer. They want others to have the joy and hope that they have. They want to teach others the ways of God and how to follow Him. Fools could care less about following God and about wisdom. Full of selfishness and delight in their sin, they could care less about the welfare of others. Fools are unable to offer others the help of valuable knowledge and insight even if they wanted to because they do not know wisdom in Christ

  3. Makinde christianah

    Christianah Makinde
    This cahpter major on the route of information to both the righteous and the wicked (Fools). How wisdom is gotten and used. Same with foolishness.
    1. The Mouth vs 1,2,4,7,8,23: wisdom giveth soft responses. The tongue is not used as weapon of destruction but motivation.
    2. The Ear vs 10, 12, 31,32: The wise will hear reproof and make amendment but fools will hate corrections
    3. The Heart vs 11, 13,14,15,21,26,28,33: The heart is the centre of learning for the wise. He feeds the heart with Knowledge.
    4. The Eyes vs 30: The wise sees things in a way that makes the heart glad.

  4. Imion immaculate osereme

    Speak Softly (and Your Tongue will Turn into a Tree, or Something) Speaking softly helps calm the wrath of other people, and if your tongue is gentle, it’s “a tree of life.” God watches over everything, says the author, measuring it all up. … Their sacrifices don’t please God—but the prayers of the righteous do.
    God delights in obedience more than sacrifice because to Him it is the heart that matters (1 Samuel 15:22). Any person can perform some religious ritual to attempt to externally cleanse himself or to impress God, but God wants to clean up the inside of a person by regenerating his heart. Thus, those who perform empty religious acts by maintaining a form of godliness while still denying the power of God (2 Timothy 3:5) to change their hearts make God very angry. What people think is a checkmark in the column of goodness in their file of hoping to earn enough points to get into heaven is actually an abominable act before God. Even the righteous sacrifices of a fallen heart are displeasing to God and like filthy rags before Him (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23). Only the cleansing of the blood of Christ can please a holy and perfect God. He desires to give grace to the humble, but the proud who are confident in their self-generated and self-aggrandizing deeds must be brought low. God delights in the prayer of those who are upright in heart because Christ intercedes for them and allows them to bring their requests before God (Hebrews 4:15-16). God looks forward to hearing them cast their cares upon Him, for He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7). In their humility, they seek God’s help, while the arrogant choose not to depend on God for anything. Even prayer from a wicked person is a repulsive thing to God. If an entire country started going to church, praying, and doing some good deeds, it wouldn’t please God if their hearts did not belong to Him. A true gospel is everything because only the gospel can change a people from the inside out and make their good works pleasing to God because they will be generated by the Spirit and not by some selfish, pride-filled motive. Only the heart that has freely received of God’s freely given grace can freely give such grace and love to others (1 John 4:7-8). Obedience to the gospel is what counts, not vain religion.

  5. Gbadebo Toluwalope

    Proverbs 15
    This chapter focus on two individual and their characters
    The wise and the foolish each with their own ways and the consequences of their action
    It further shows us that God sees all and knows all, he knows everything that is happening to each person everytime
    It’s also tells us the things or behaviour God detest.
    Wisdom is given to us to be able to discern and be guided in the journey of our life
    The chapter further tells us the reward of wickedness

  6. Imion Angela Ofure

    Th first verse is talking about how we respond to people when they come to us in wrath. When this happens, we are often tempted to be harsh in response. Wisdom shows us the value of a soft answer, one without sharp edges or points. That kind of answer can actually turn away wrath.
    As children of God, we are admonished to not behave in an unrighteous manner in all ramifications of our lives.

  7. Odedairo Oladele Omotayo

    Proverbs 15 is a collection of thirty – three verses. While the chapter continues to use antithetical parallelism (like the previous five), that type of parallelism begins to dwindle.
    Verbal communication is a recurring topic in the chapter, appearing in verses 1, 2, 4, 7, 23, 26, and 28. Verse 1 says, “A gentle response allays wrath; A harsh word provokes anger.” The notion that unfriendly responses only cause more problems is prevalent in the book of Proverbs.
    For example, two verses speak about how one can appease the harsh rulings of a king: 25:15 says, “Through forbearance a ruler may be won over; A gentle tongue can break bones,” and 16:14 says “The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man can appease it.”
    Another verse that deals with verbal communication is verse 23: “A ready response is a joy to a man, And how good is a word rightly timed!”
    Verse 10:11: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But lawlessness covers the mouth of the wicked.” Our chapter also points out that one should deliberate before speaking: “The heart of the righteous man rehearses his answer, But the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things” verse 28. Also see verse. 18: “A hot-tempered man provokes a quarrel;
    The theme of omniscience is taken up again in v. 11: “Sheol and Abaddon lie exposed to the LORD, How much more the minds of men!” Prov. 24:12 turns this message into a warning, “If you say, ‘We knew nothing of it,’ Surely He who fathoms hearts will discern the truth, He who watches over your life will know it, And He will pay each man as he deserves.” In regards to the “eyes” of God, see a similar usage in Prov. 22:12 and 24:18.
    Another verse that incorporates God’s name is verse 8: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright pleases Him.” This messsage, that the sacrificer/suppliant is more important than the sacrifice/prayer, is also seen in verse 29: “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
    What need have I of all your sacrifices?’ says the LORD. ‘I am sated with burnt offerings of rams, And suet of fatlings, And blood of bulls; And I have no delight In lambs and he-goats. And when you lift up your hands, I will turn My eyes away from you; Though you pray at length, I will not listen. Your hands are stained with crime… Wash yourselves clean; Put your evil doings Away from My sight. Cease to do evil; Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice; Aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; Defend the cause of the widow.”
    Verse15 is an example of the book’s no-nonsense approach to poverty: “All the days of a poor man are wretched, But contentment is a feast without end.”
    Verse16-17 incorporate the “better… than…” formula: “Better a little with fear of the LORD Than great wealth with confusion. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love Than a fattened ox where there is hate.” Murphy writes, “The “better” saying is a common literary form in wisdom literature… [it] is made [in] order to express a paradox, to overturn what would normally be considered a plus, e.g., riches, into a minus.”.
    Verse16-17 seem to put affluence into a broader perspective. While many verses promise wealth to the righteous, no proverb says it all. For example, our v. 6 says, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the harvest of the wicked there is trouble.” However, v. 16 makes a caveat: not all righteous people will be wealthy, “Better a little with fear of the LORD Than great wealth with confusion.” Indeed, wisdom passages such as
    Verse 22 speaks about seeking advice, “Plans are foiled for want of counsel, But they succeed through many advisers.”. “Arrogance yields nothing but strife; Wisdom belongs to those who seek advice.” .
    Verse 25 speaks about divine punishment and mercy: “The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the homestead of the widow.”
    Verse 27 says, “He who pursues ill-gotten gain makes trouble for his household; He who spurns gifts will live long.” The antithetical parallelism indicates that the word “gifts” has a negative connotation, i.e. they are a bribe. Waltke points out that the word mattanah, which usually means “gift,” is synomous with shochad “bribe” in wisdom literature. For example, 18:16 speaks about gaining favour with a ruler by means of “gifts”: “A man’s gift (mattan) eases his way And gives him access to the great.”

  8. Prophetess Deborah Oreofe David

    Day 12 Proverb 12:1-4 This passage explained that a person who loves instruction grow into a very intelligent being,I believe part of instruction meant here is instruction in right living, we are eager to learn God’s way and we quickly see sins in our lives and repent, the greatest knowledge that we can have is to know God and His word,if we are not eager to learn from our God,we are like a beast without conscience.
    Proverb 12:2-7 A good Christian try to please God instead of pleasing himself, as a Christian we must not in anyway trying to find to do evil,God condemns evil every time. God blesses a righteous man ,he flourishes like a tree beside water,when you see a righteous man, it is like a good tree bearing fruit everyday, but the wicked ones shall perish with their wickedness. It is very important for a woman in Christ Jesus to be upright not only for her own good but for family reputation as well,we mist try to be a woman that her husband can be proud of,we must pledge our faithfulness to Lord and to our spouses,we must not bring Shane to our husband, our family and ourselves. A good Christian try to please God always, he thinks of things that are right,a good Christian must convince other people to not believe lies,we must not be a deceiver,words coming out of our mouth must be a word of life not a word of death,don’t bear false witness against others,it’s an abomination before the Lord, we Christians have Jesus to rely upon in the day of adversity,believing and trusting God that He will surely see us through, the wicked ones are overthrown and they can not stand up trials because they have no source of strength.
    Proverb 12:8-14 Don’t be a fool Christian ,he that truly has a perverted heart will be despised, we all know what sin means ,let us be guided by the wisdom of God. Secondly, we should embrace the spirit of humility according to our Lord Jesus, God watches our behaviors and reward us accordingly ( Philippians 2:9)there is a reward for those who serves God with a heart of humility, a wicked person does not love God, very cruel to both man and animals, even the animals that cannot help themselves, we should try to show kindness, mercy to our fellow Christians and animals as well, though,we rule over the but this dies not stop us from being kind to them. Every human being must try to do something that will assist you financially, someone who works his fields with his hands shall not go hungry,a righteous man produces fruit pleasing unto God, those who use their hands to work is righteous before God will not be ashamed,the just person tells the truth,when you tell lie,it is usually calls for another lie to cover up first, but the just have an advocate with the father,Jesus Christ the righteous, in this verse 14,we are implore to bear more fruit in the Lord,( i.e) do the work of Evangelism,preaching the word of God produces fruit for the kingdom of God.
    Proverb1212:15- 20 A fool thinks he is always right,he thinks everyone is wrong but a wise man listen attentively and submissively to the counsel of others for he knows that they are speaking with the spirit of God, we must come to God and study the scripture in total trust and submission. Why are you upset? You have many things to be happy about than to be be mad about,don’t be a fool,remember Moses in the book of Numbers 20:7-13.
    Proverb 12:21-25 28. Evil will definitely follow whosoever that rejects God’s instruction for they are fools,even fools labor for the just,his properties are for the righteous man, because they cunningly divert what belongs to the just to themselves because there is no judgement, parents rebuke your children so they will not go astray for the righteous shall he satisfied with good things., there is a great peace and joy in believing the promises of God and acting upon them in faith( Luke 12:25) said it all,the Lord tells us that worrying and being anxious is worthless and accomplishes nothing ,our good work must shine light to those around us.

  9. Merayebu

    This chapter talks about how to bridle our tongue that is we should not respond harshly to words ..thinking before one respond to matters because it brings honour to one…. Responding rightly with wisdom matters in all aspect of our lives

    1. Akinsehinwa Queen

      This chapter teaches us on how ro caution our tongue, how we respond to situations especially when the situation is not encouraging or could cause rift.Alot of us Christian do not know how to bridle their tongue, we speak the way we feel forgetting that our response matters alot cos its either it stir us strife or it appeased strife.
      Alot of Christian prays but does not get answer because of their wicked character. We can’t be doing bad to people and believe our prayer should be answered.
      Above all, we need to fear God, cos the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

  10. Akinbobola Esther

    A wise person can be determined by how he speaks and how he behaves.
    Happy people manifest their Joy to others
    Verse 17 give us the two key words Love and Hatred,u live free in love and dangerous life where there is Hatred
    The righteous voice is not far to God to hear than the wicked people

  11. Gbadebo omotolani Esther

    This chapter tells us about the foolish and the wise one, it state that let speak in a calm way to avoid warth and insult let speak of truth and also caution our mouth, is not all words is meant to be spoken out, it also tells us to always listen to corrections and let our heart be a pure and holy one.

  12. Adefuwa Adedokunola Evening

    This is a solid insight on how to use our tongue and tone of voice in all our endeavor been prudent is not an option towards others.

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