We continue pithy two-line proverbs contrasting areas of wisdom and folly.
Proverbs 15:1-2, Gentle and wise speech
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
Carefully chosen words are important -- a gentle answer health creates peace or provides knowledge; contrast that with words that stir up anger or gush uselessness.
Proverbs 15:3, Eyes of YHWH see all
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
A reminder that both righteous and unrighteous acts and thoughts are visible to God. This will be emphasized again in verses 8-9 in God's observation of evil and in verse 11, which stresses that nothing is hidden from the eyes of God.
Proverbs 15:4, Healing speech
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
We return to the theme of words and the tongue.
Proverbs 15:5, Correction leads to prudence
A fool spurns his father's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
Another proverb on the importance of correction and constructive criticism. The word translated "prudence" here is, arom translated "shrewd" by Alter. The word differs by a single Hebrew letter from arum ; both mean "crafty" in some sense. Here there is a positive meaning to the word, implying patience and thoughtfulness.
Proverbs 15:6, Good money and bad
The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
Even money does not aid the wicked person.
Proverbs 15:7, Spreading knowledge
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
A fourth verse in this chapter on the importance of good speech. (It is assumed here that knowledge is a good thing, a theme that runs throughout this book.)
Proverbs 15:8-9, True religion
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
The LORD detests the way of the wicked
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
These two paragraphs are almost identical; the first emphasizes religious observance; the wicked can give sacrifices but it does no good while God sees the prayers of the upright. The second verse repeats the first but more generally. The word "detest" shows up in both verses; Alter's translation gives "loathing."
Proverbs 15:10-12, Correction under the eyes of YHWH
Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD--
how much more the hearts of men!
A mocker resents correction;
he will not consult the wise.
The first and third verses of these three emphasize the importance of correction and one's acceptance of it. Between them is a verse that says that since even Death, Destruction, Sheol are visible to YHWH, certainly He sees their hearts. (See also verse 3, above.)
Proverbs 15:13-15, Cheerful heart
A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
The outlook of the heart is a subject in all three of these verses. In the first and third, a cheerful heart is praised -- it is implied that the happy, cheerful heart affects others. In the middle verse the emphasis is on a discerning (thoughtful) mindset.
Proverbs 15:16-17, The real treasures
Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil.
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
The emphasis on correct happiness continues: even with little to eat, it is better to fear God and live with Love (God's love and the love of friends or family.) A rich meal in a room of turmoil and hatred will not be enjoyed.
Proverbs 15:18, Temper vs. Patience
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.
I read into this proverb again the emphasis on calming, patient and kind words.
Proverbs 15:19, A path of thorns
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
The lazy sluggard discovers that nothing is easy. (Is this because he does not adequately prepare? Or is this merely a mindset: "I can go that way, it is hard!")
Proverbs 15:20, Parents
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
In the classic parallelism, the gender of the parent is changed in the second line but also changed is the direction of the emotion. In the first line the father feels joy watching his wise son; in the second line the foolish man is described as disregarding his mother (and her training.) Nothing is said about her emotions.
Proverbs 15:21, Understanding and success
Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.
The first line is almost a tautology -- the man who lacks judgment seems to like things that way. The second line continues the geometry of righteousness -- a man of understanding (and thus a man of righteousness) has a smooth straight path before him.
Proverbs 15:22, Seek counsel
Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--
and how good is a timely word!
Another verse emphasizing the importance of words.
Proverbs 15:24, Upwards/downwards
The path of life leads upward for the wise
to keep him from going down to the grave.
One is rewarded by wisdom. In the first line, the spatial change is upward; in the second line it is downward.
Proverbs 15:25-26, A widow's boundary stones.
The LORD tears down the proud man's house
but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but those of the pure are pleasing to him.
YHWH is looking over humankind, watching the proud, protecting the poor, pleased by the righteous, detesting the thoughts of the wicked.
Proverbs 15:27, Greed and honesty
A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
but he who hates bribes will live.
Greed hurts others. Here a "bribe" is a financial enticement to do wrong.
Proverbs 15:28, Gushing speech
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
Once more there is an emphasis on the mouth and words. Alter has "bubbles" in place of "gushes"; surely there is an image of an evil mouth frothing with anger, with indignities and profanities. Verse 2, above, says something similar.
Proverbs 15:29, When does YHWH listen
The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
All people may pray at this times, but YHWH gives the righteous first priority.
Proverbs 15:30, New and health
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
Cheer is healthy.
Proverbs 15:31-33, Be teachable
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
The chapter ends with an emphasis on humility and openness to correction. The last verse offers an inverse to the statement"pride goes before a fall" (see Proverb 16:18-20) by saying "humility goes before honor."
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