Proverbs 15 is the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.[1] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period. This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.
The following table shows the Hebrew text[2] [3] of Proverbs 15 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger. | ||
| 2 | The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. | ||
| 3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good. | ||
| 4 | A soothing tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit. | ||
| 5 | A fool despiseth his father’s correction; But he that regardeth reproof is prudent. | ||
| 6 | In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. | ||
| 7 | The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish is not stedfast. | ||
| 8 | The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But the prayer of the upright is His delight. | ||
| 9 | The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But He loveth him that followeth after righteousness. | ||
| 10 | There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; And he that hateth reproof shall die. | ||
| 11 | The nether-world and Destruction are before the LORD; How much more then the hearts of the children of men | ||
| 12 | A scorner loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise. | ||
| 13 | A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. | ||
| 14 | The heart of him that hath discernment seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly. | ||
| 15 | All the days of the poor are evil; But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. | ||
| 16 | Better is little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil therewith. | ||
| 17 | Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. | ||
| 18 | A wrathful man stirreth up discord; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. | ||
| 19 | The way of the sluggard is as though hedged by thorns; But the path of the upright is even. | ||
| 20 | A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother. | ||
| 21 | Folly is joy to him that lacketh understanding; But a man of discernment walketh straightforwards. | ||
| 22 | For want of counsel purposes are frustrated; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. | ||
| 23 | A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it! | ||
| 24 | The path of life goeth upward for the wise, that he may depart from the nether-world beneath. | ||
| 25 | The LORD will pluck up the house of the proud; But He will establish the border of the widow | ||
| 26 | The thoughts of wickedness are an abomination to the LORD; But words of pleasantness are pure. | ||
| 27 | He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth gifts shall live. | ||
| 28 | The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. | ||
| 29 | The LORD is far from the wicked; But He heareth the prayer of the righteous. | ||
| 30 | The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And a good report maketh the bones fat. | ||
| 31 | The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life abideth among the wise. | ||
| 32 | He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding. | ||
| 33 | The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour goeth humility. |
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008). Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q103 (4QProv; 30 BCE – 30 CE) with extant verses 1–8, 19–31.[4] [5]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;
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This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 10:1–22:16), also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection" (the second one in Proverbs 25:1–29:27). The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for which consists of three parts.
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.[6]
This verse contrasts a conciliatory reply that soothes a situation leading to reasoned discussion and the acrimonious reply that inflames a situation and makes intelligentdiscussion impossible.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.[9]
This saying points that conciliatory or healing speech promotes life, in contrast with twisted or perverse speech, which may cause injury and bring death (cf. Proverbs 18:21).
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
and a word spoken in due season, how good it is![11]
This saying praises how a timely word brings satisfaction for both the speaker and the hearer(s), because words spoken out of "due season' would be ineffective and counter-productive.
. Michael D. Coogan . The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 . Coogan . Michael David . Marc Zvi . Brettler . Carol Ann . Newsom . Pheme . Perkins . Augmented 3rd . Oxford University Press . 2007 . 9780195288810 .
. Joseph Fitzmyer . A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2008. 9780802862419. Grand Rapids, MI .
. Michael V. Fox . Proverbs 10-31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary . Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries . Yale University Press . 2009 . 978-0300155563.
. Henry Hampton Halley. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary . 24th (revised). Zondervan Publishing House . 1965 . 0-310-25720-4.