Proverbs 15:6

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
– Proverbs 15:6

The righteous and the wicked are both gaining. The gain of the righteous is stored up as treasure, or wealth. The point of the first phrase is that through wisdom, the gains made by righteousness are a blessing (Proverbs 8:21; 21:20). These blessed gains come through honest and hard work (Proverbs 10:4; 21:5). The word for revenues means income, or produce. The word for trouble means to roil water, i.e., to stir up or disturb. The wicked pursue gains hastily and craftily, so they come with much trouble (Proverbs 20:21; 21:5-7; 28:22).

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Proverbs 15:5

A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
– Proverbs 15:5

Proverbs teaches wisdom is had by instruction and correction (Proverbs 1:2-4, 23). The prudent, or wise, will heed it (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The fool despiseth, or scorns, sound correction and instruction (Proverbs 10:1; 13:1). They will not hear wise counsel (Proverbs 1:7; 10:8; 12:15) and they mock sin (Proverbs 14:9). Referring to his father’s instruction shows his foolishness early on (Proverbs 22:15), which can lead to an irremediable scoffing fool (Proverbs 27:22). This proverb also reveals character by how we respond to correction and instruction.

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Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the Spirit.
– Proverbs 15:4

This proverb contrasts the power of words to either heal or hurt (Proverbs 18:21). The word for wholesome means curative, or healing. The tree of life imagery speaks of life-giving, as here with the wholesome tongue. Wise and apt speech gives health and life (Proverbs 16:24). The word for perverseness refers to distortion or crookedness. What is bent or distorted is obviously the way of wisdom. Such perverseness is a mark of transgressors (Proverbs 11:3). The word for breach means a fracture, or crushing. These words are damaging inwardly and outwardly (Proverbs 18:8).

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Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
– Proverbs 15:3

This proverb expresses the omniscience of God. His knowledge is full and complete. It’s not that he can know, but that he does know. Wisdom knows this and that knowledge provokes wise speech and actions (Proverbs 5:21). This is a comfort to the righteous (2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 23:10) and a terror to the wicked (Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 15:8-9, 11).

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Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
– Proverbs 15:2

The tongue and mouth here are figures for speech, spoken words. The word for useth … aright means skillfully, or to do well. The words a wise man uses are thoughtful and deliberately chosen (Proverbs 15:28; 16:23). He has control over his tongue, which means his words will also be fewer (Proverbs 17:28). The contrast is with fools who poureth out, or gush forth, foolishness. Fools are quick to speak, which means their words are thoughtless (Proverbs 29:20). Fools also pour out a great quantity of words without restraint (Proverbs 10:19; 15:28; 29:11; Ecclesiastes 10:14).

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Proverbs 15:1

Introduction
Chapters 10 to 22 are the second major section of the Proverbs, known as “The proverbs of Solomon.” This section divides into two parts. Chapters 10 to 15 are the first division with 185 proverbs that are primarily two-line, antithetical parallel phrases. Chapter 15 is the last chapter of the first division and has proverbs on various subjects, such as speech, correction, laziness, bribes, God’s omniscience, and teachability.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
– Proverbs 15:1

The word for soft means tender, and when used of words, refers to gentleness. An answer is a reply and the word for turneth away means to turn back, or in this case, to prevent wrath. A wise man is a calm, clear thinking man who controls his speech (Proverbs 17:27) and chooses his words carefully (Proverbs 15:23, 28). The soft answer here is wise speech that calms anger and restores reasonableness. The contrast is grievous, or painful words. These are words that provoke. The word for stir up means to go up and refers to increasing anger. The stirring up of anger comes from pride (Proverbs 28:25), hatred (Proverbs 10:12), and an angry temperament (Proverbs 29:22). It is the mark of a fool (Proverbs 14:17).

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