[2] The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Aright — Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully.
Poureth out — Plentifully, continually, and vehemently, as a fountain does waters.
[4] A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Wholesome — Which utters sound and useful counsels.
Tree of life — Is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers.
Perverseness — False or corrupt speeches.
A breach — Disturbs and wounds the spirits, both of the speaker and hearers.
[6] In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Revenues — Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble.
[7] The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Disperse — Freely communicate to others what they know.
[8] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Sacrifice — All the religious services, yea, the most costly; one kind being put for all the rest.
Prayer — The cheapest and meanest services.
[11] Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Destruction — The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation.
[14] The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Foolishness — Wickedness is meat and drink to them.
[15] All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Afflicted — Of the troubled in mind.
Evil — Tedious and uncomfortable.
Chearful — Heb. of a good heart.
[16] Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Trouble — Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience.
[19] The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
An hedge — As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties.
Plain — Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties.
[22] Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Counsel — When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others.
[23] A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
The answer — By a wise, or good and seasonable answer.
[24] The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
The way — The way a wise man takes to obtain life, is to place his heart, and treasure, and conversation on things above.
[25] The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
The proud — Of the mighty oppressors.
The border — The estate, the border being often used, for the land within the borders.
[26] The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Pleasant — Acceptable to God.
[27] He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
Troubleth — Brings God's curse upon himself and family.
Gifts — Bribes given to corrupt judgment.
Live — Shall preserve himself and family from ruin.
[28] The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Studieth — He speaks considerately.
The mouth — Not the heart; for he rashly speaks what comes into his mouth, without the direction of his heart or conscience.
[30] The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
A good report — A good name.
Fat — Not only chears a man for the present, but gives him such stable comfort as revives his soul, and gives vigour to his body.
[31] The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
The ear — The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise.
[33] The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
The instruction — Doth instruct men in true wisdom.
Proverbs 15 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Aright — Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully.
Poureth out — Plentifully, continually, and vehemently, as a fountain does waters.
Verse 4
[4] A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Wholesome — Which utters sound and useful counsels.
Tree of life — Is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers.
Perverseness — False or corrupt speeches.
A breach — Disturbs and wounds the spirits, both of the speaker and hearers.
Verse 6
[6] In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Revenues — Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble.
Verse 7
[7] The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Disperse — Freely communicate to others what they know.
Verse 8
[8] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Sacrifice — All the religious services, yea, the most costly; one kind being put for all the rest.
Prayer — The cheapest and meanest services.
Verse 11
[11] Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Destruction — The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation.
Verse 14
[14] The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Foolishness — Wickedness is meat and drink to them.
Verse 15
[15] All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Afflicted — Of the troubled in mind.
Evil — Tedious and uncomfortable.
Chearful — Heb. of a good heart.
Verse 16
[16] Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Trouble — Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience.
Verse 19
[19] The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
An hedge — As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties.
Plain — Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties.
Verse 22
[22] Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Counsel — When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others.
Verse 23
[23] A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
The answer — By a wise, or good and seasonable answer.
Verse 24
[24] The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
The way — The way a wise man takes to obtain life, is to place his heart, and treasure, and conversation on things above.
Verse 25
[25] The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
The proud — Of the mighty oppressors.
The border — The estate, the border being often used, for the land within the borders.
Verse 26
[26] The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Pleasant — Acceptable to God.
Verse 27
[27] He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
Troubleth — Brings God's curse upon himself and family.
Gifts — Bribes given to corrupt judgment.
Live — Shall preserve himself and family from ruin.
Verse 28
[28] The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Studieth — He speaks considerately.
The mouth — Not the heart; for he rashly speaks what comes into his mouth, without the direction of his heart or conscience.
Verse 30
[30] The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
A good report — A good name.
Fat — Not only chears a man for the present, but gives him such stable comfort as revives his soul, and gives vigour to his body.
Verse 31
[31] The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
The ear — The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise.
Verse 33
[33] The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
The instruction — Doth instruct men in true wisdom.