Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:1

1. ‘A Soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

It is wise when the storm is high, to bend under it, than stiffly resist it. A soft word will disarm those, that a sharp reply would exasperate.

2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 15:2

The right use of knowledge is to communicate it for others’ instruction, comfort, and edifying; and thus the tongue of the wise is employed: but the folly bound up in the heart of a fool, guesses out at his lips as a fountain, offensive to God, hurtful to others, and a reproach to himself.

3. ‘The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3

This is an awful truth, which should be ever deep impressed on our minds, as the great means of deterring us from evil, and quickening us to duty. Shall we be ashamed to sin in the eye of the sin, and not be more confounded to offend, when under that eye, which is brighter than ten thousand funs?

4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverse-ness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Before Christ 1000. Or for. Job vol. 15. & vol. 16. PC vol. 4. 9 Col. 1. 9.

Proverbs 15:4

Before Chill 1000.

As a man’s tongue is, he proves a bleffing or a plague to locate; a duifour tongue is a tree of life, pouring confidation into the troubled conscience, yielding instruction to the ignorant, healing the breaches among brethren, and softening the exasperated: but the very opposite is the tongue of perverse-ness, whose passion, brutality, impurity, profaneness, falsehood, maliciousness, wound like the piercings of a sword, making the hearts of many fad, and bringing destruction on its possessor.

5. ‘A fool despisteth his father’s instruction: ‘but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 15:5

Inattention to the instruction of superiors, whether parents or ministers, and disregard of their reproofs, is egregious folly: but the wise son hearkenth and submits; for though reproofs may be bitter physic, they are necessary, and, when coming recommended by a father’s love, are most thankfully to be received.

6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 15:6

When God sees it good, even in this life, the righteous have an abundant portion; and whether they have little or much, it becomes a rich treasure in the thankfulness and contentment with which they enjoy it: and what is better than all worldly wealth, these souls are floored with the riches of divine grace: but vexation and trouble embitter all the revenues of the wicked; they are got with anxiety, employed in the service of sin, enjoyed under a curse, and tending to their ruin.

7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish dash not so.

Proverbs 15:7

Knowledge, like the light, should be dispersed, and a wise man will shine as the sun, a universal bleffing: not so the fool, his heart is darkness and his talk folly.

8. ‘The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 15:8

It is not the expenciveness of the sacrifice, but the spirit of the offer which flamps its real value. The prayers and devotion of formality, and the most liberal almsgiving of those who continue to serve sin, and think this a kind of commutation, or depend on these services as meritorious; God, so far from regarding, abhors them and their sacrifices; whilst the widow’s mite, or the servant prayer out of a pure heart, are his delight.

9. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him ’that followeth after righteousness.

Proverbs 15:9

Where the heart is naught, and the way perverses before God, it were folly to think any sacrifices can be pleasing; they who would have their services accepted, must first have their souls right with him; and where this is the labour and prayer, there his love will be placed.

10. Correction is grievous unto him that forfaketh the way: and ‘he that hateth reproof shall die.

Proverbs 15:10

They who forfake God’s ways, which they have once known, can lealt bear reproof, and resent every warning, however kindly given; and the case becomes desperate when the only remedy is loathed and rejected, the patient then must infallibly die.

11. ‘Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then ’the hearts of the children of men?

Proverbs 15:11

Deep and universal is God’s knowledge; the grave to him hath no covering, and hell itself is naked; the place of departed spirits, and the tophes of the damned are open to him; much more the hearts of the children of men, with the secrets of which he must be acquainted, and from him no darkness or shadow of death can hide the workers of iniquity. Let the guilty tremble! God sees and minutes his every thought, word, and work.

12. A scorner loveth not one that reprovereth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

Proverbs 15:12

A scorner hates reproof, or to reprove himself, to reflect upon his conduct, and take shame for his sin: he thrusts out every unself thought, silences the whispers of conscience; and shuns the door of the wise, where he suspects he shall meet the admonition he abhors.

Vol. I.

13. A merry heart maketh a cheatful countenance: but ‘by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 15:13

They have most abundant reason to show a cheatful countenance whose hearts are joyful in Christ Jesus and his salvation. A down-cast gloomy look favours more of superstition than piety, and is utterly unbecoming those who are commanded to rejoice always: but where melancholy press upon the spirits, it unites us for both the duties of devotion and our stature, leaves all our comforts, makes us disagreeable to others, and a burden to ourselves.

14. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of souls reedeth on foolishness.

Proverbs 15:14

The heart that hath talked of true understanding, finds its appetite wherred by every truth attainment; and that of this fountain it is always true, the deeper the toaster: but the fool, infuriable of the blessings of wisdom, hath no relish for any thing above the gratification of sinful appetite, and reedeth on these husks.

15. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but ‘he that is of a merry heart hath a continual rest.

Proverbs 15:15

Vail is the difference between the estates of men below, some seem born for a succession of miseries, and go mourning all their days, naturally of a dejected spirit, and burdened with afflictions; others are blest with cheatfulness of temper, and enjoy a continual rest, which no crosses or losses are able to embitter, especially where the true grace of God in the heart ministers matter for abiding joy.

16. ‘Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure, and trouble therewith. 17. ‘Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith.

v. 16, 17. A man’s happiness consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses, but in the temper with which he uses them. A little with the fear of the Lord (and God’s people expect no great things here) is better than great treasure, and trouble therewith, the usual attendant on wealth, which increases our cares, and multiplies our vexations: and a dinner of herbs, where love is, whether among our friends or in our own house, is better than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith: where love sweetens the entertainment, coarse fare will have a delicious relish; but where there is discontent, bickerings, dispute, and, though doomed to dwell together, persons have a hearty aversion to each other, there must be misery in the midst of plenty.

18. ‘A wrathful man stiereth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 15:18

4. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refueth instruction : but he that regarded reproof, shall be honoured.

They who are stubborn, and deaf to advice, will necessarily plunge themselves into difficulties, and bring themselves both to want and shame, as the fruit of their own perversionists, but he that regarded reproof, is thankful for it, and wisely attends to it, shall be honoured; all good men will commend his spirit, and he will have that better honour which cometh from God’s approbation.

Ver. 19.

19. The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul : but it is abomination to the fools to depart from evil.

A passionate man is ever in breeze, quarrelsome himself, and unable to let others rest in quiet: but a gentle spirit allays the warmth which was kindling, soothes the exasperated, and softens the obstinate. A bleffed spirit this!

19. ‘The way of the stothful man is an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Proverbs 15:19

The desires of the gracious heart are after God, the sense of his favour, and the experience of his grace; and there are they to the soul when accomplished, as they assuredly will be : but the wicked reject these joys, and are destitute of these desires, dishonestly adhering to their sins, and hating the thought of parting with them.

Hels. Baldwin.

20. He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise : but a companion of fools shall be + destroyed.

The way of the stothful man is an hedge of thorns; in such difficulties he involves himself by his silences, or he fancies insurmountable obstacles in the way of his duty, and that the path of godliness is throated with beers and thorns, and therefore is discouraged from entering upon it: but the way of the righteous is made plain; he finds none of the difficulties the stothful faggeth, the way of righteousness is both plain and pleasant.

20. ‘A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs 15:20

A man may be known by his company, and it is of the last importance with whom we connect ourselves. They who associate with the wise, and those who excel in virtue, will profit by their conversation, and be quickened by their example : but a companion of fools, who joins in their levities, and follows their vices, is in the high road to ruin, rushing on an untimely death, or worse, into everlasting destruction.

Pl. exil. 1a. Alls Exil. 4.

21. Evil purloeth sinners : but to the righteous, good shall be repayed.

Nothing rejoices a parent’s heart so much as to behold their children growing up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and as dutifulness and obedience is their wisdom, so to despise their advice, act contrary to their commands, and refuse their corrections, will he found as much their own shame and sin, as their parent’s grief.

21. ‘Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Proverbs 15:21

Sinners may flatter themselves with impunity, but their damnation flumbereth not ; closer than their shadow the curse of his profuse them : but to the righteous, good shall be repayed, in return for all they have suffered for righteousness sake; a reward, not indeed of debt, but of grace.

Joh exil. 1. Chap. exil. 8. Exil. 6. 2.

22. A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children : and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Sin is the delight of a fool; he boasts of his own shame, and takes pleasure in the iniquities of others: but where the spirit of wisdom hath enlightened the understanding, there sin is abhorred, and God’s perfect word made the constant rule.

Proverbs 15:22

A good man, as in duty bound, is careful to make a provision for his family; and whilst he leaves them withal the blessing of his prayers and joery, he thereby ensnere to children’s children the comfort and abiding profession of his honest gains; whilst the sinner, however rich he grows, leaves a curse in the entail of his abundance; and by God’s righteous providence, the property is quickly transferred into the hands of the just, Exud. iii. 36.