“A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.”

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.”

“A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But one who complies with rebuke is sensible.
Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.”

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

“The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Bright eyes make the heart glad,
Good news refreshes the bones.”

“A heart of understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure, and turmoil with it.
Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.”

“A hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.”

“A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense,
But a person of understanding walks straight.”

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they succeed.
A person has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!”

“The path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from Sheol below.
The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will set the boundary of the widow.”

“Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.”

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

“Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.
He whose ear listens to life-giving rebuke
Will dwell among the wise.
He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to rebuke acquires understanding.”

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.”

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Context and Meaning

Proverbs 15 shows how wisdom shapes conversation and conduct.
This chapter weaves together three great themes:

1. The power of speech — words can heal, harm, build, or break.
2. The posture of the heart — humility invites wisdom; pride drives it away.
3. The presence of God — He sees all, delights in righteousness, and hears the prayers of the humble.

At its core, Proverbs 15 teaches that the fear of the Lord produces peace within and order around — transforming how we respond, relate, and reflect God’s truth in every interaction.

Key Themes:

1. The Power of Gentle Words: Soft speech turns away anger (v. 1).
2. The Omniscience of God: He sees all hearts and actions (v. 3).
3. Righteous Prayer and Wicked Sacrifice: God values obedience over outward religion (v. 8–9).
4. Joy and Contentment: A cheerful heart finds a feast even in want (v. 15–17).
5. Patience and Peacemaking: Slow anger reflects divine wisdom (v. 18).
6. The Value of Counsel: Wisdom flourishes in community (v. 22).
7. Humility Before Honor: Fear of the Lord precedes elevation (v. 33).

Reflection and Impact

This chapter is a mirror for the heart and mouth — showing how deeply words reveal who we are before God.

• Gentleness defuses conflict – “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (v. 1) mirrors James 1:19–20: be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
• God sees everything – “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” (v. 3) echoes Hebrews 4:13: all things are open to His sight.
• True religion begins with the heart – “The prayer of the upright is His delight” (v. 8) recalls John 4:24: those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.
• Contentment brings peace – “Better a little with the fear of the Lord…” (v. 16) aligns with Philippians 4:11–12: I have learned to be content in any circumstance.
• Wisdom listens and learns – “He who listens to life-giving rebuke will dwell among the wise” (v. 31) parallels Proverbs 9:9: instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still.
• Humility precedes honor – “Before honor comes humility” (v. 33) foreshadows Matthew 23:12: whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Application

• Answer Softly: Let gentleness lead, even in conflict.
• Remember God Sees: Live as one always in His presence.
• Pursue Righteousness Over Ritual: God delights in sincerity, not show.
• Cultivate Joy: Gratitude turns scarcity into abundance.
• Listen to Counsel: The humble heart grows wiser with correction.
• Walk in Reverent Humility: Honor follows those who bow low before the Lord.

Closing Thought

Every word we speak carries the power to heal or to harm, to build peace or to stir wrath.
Wisdom teaches us to speak softly, live humbly, and rest securely in the fear of the Lord.
It’s the quiet heart, not the loud voice, that holds heaven’s attention.

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.”