Proverbs 15 - Introduction

NOTICEABLE GROUPINGS IN CHAPTER 15

Good speech

A soft answer turneth away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).

The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright (Proverbs 15:2).

A gentle tongue is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4).

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge (Proverbs 15:7).

A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it! (Proverbs 15:23).

Pleasant words are pure (Proverbs 15:26).

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer (Proverbs 15:28).

Bad speech

A grievous word stirreth up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

The mouth of fools poureth out folly (Proverbs 15:2).

Perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

The mouth of fools feedeth on folly (Proverbs 15:14).

The mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things (Proverbs 15:28).

Wise

The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright (Proverbs 15:2).

He that regardeth reproof getteth prudence (Proverbs 15:5).

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge (Proverbs 15:7).

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge (Proverbs 15:14).

A wise son maketh a glad father (Proverbs 15:20).

A man of understanding maketh straight his going (Proverbs 15:21).

To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath (Proverbs 15:24).

The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life shall abide among the wise (Proverbs 15:31).

Fools

The mouth of fools poureth out folly (Proverbs 15:2).

A fool despiseth his father's correction (Proverbs 15:5).

The heart of the foolish doeth not so (Proverbs 15:7).

The mouth of fools feedeth on folly (Proverbs 15:14).

A foolish man despiseth his mother (Proverbs 15:20).

Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom (Proverbs 15:21).

Righteous

In the house of the righteous is much treasure (Proverbs 15:6).

The prayer of the upright is his delight (Proverbs 15:8).

He loveth him that followeth after righteousness (Proverbs 15:9).

The path of the upright is made a highway (Proverbs 15:19).

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer (Proverbs 15:28).

He heareth the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29).

Wicked

In the revenues of the wicked is trouble (Proverbs 15:6).

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:8).

The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:9).

There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way (Proverbs 15:10).

The mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things (Proverbs 15:28).

Jehovah is far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29).

Abomination

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:8).

The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:9).

Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 15:26).

Rebuke

A fool despiseth his father's correction (Proverbs 15:5).

He that regardeth reproof getteth prudence (Proverbs 15:5).

There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way (Proverbs 15:10).

He that hateth reproof shall die (Proverbs 15:10).

A scoffer loveth not to be reproved (Proverbs 15:12).

The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise (Proverbs 15:31).

He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul (Proverbs 15:32).

He that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding (Proverbs 15:32).

DON-'T TAKE UP WITH FOOLS

How true is the statement made in Proverbs 13:20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Why does God warn people about becoming a companion of fools? Because there are those who seem to know no better than to throw themselves into the direct influence of those whom God labels as fools. Anybody who has no more judgment than to take up with fools will probably not have enough judgment to preserve him from becoming like them.

Again God warns, Go from the presence of the foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge (Proverbs 14:7). This is more than a warning; it is a commandment. It shows that we must make judgment of others in order to know with whom to be companions and with whom not to be.

Especially do those who are younger (immature in judgment) and those who are known for being easily affected by their surroundings need to regard these true warnings from Proverbs.

HE IS A GOD WHO CHASTENS

Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Just as any wise, loving, concerned parent corrects his child, so does God His. Sometimes we make mistakes in our discipline, but God doesn-'t. When we do wrong, we can be sure that God is not going to stand idly by and permit us to continue in the way of wrong-doing unchastened. He loves us too much to see us continue that way. When we fail to regard His will, He expects that we will regard His chastening.