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Hawker's Poor man's commentary

Proverbs 15:14-17

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Better is it to sit down to the poorest table where Jesus is, and his love manifested in blessing the scanty fare, than all the luxuries of unsanctified fulness. Reader! if we eye Christ in everything, then shall we truly enjoy Christ in everything.

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See also Proverbs 15:14-17 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 THE BETTER THINGS One can read through the proverbs recorded in this chapter and ask the question, What are the better things? A soft answer which turneth away wrath is better than grievou...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PROVERBS 15. This chapter makes no new departure. Proverbs concerning the moral government of the world again occupy the chief place. One (Proverbs 15:11) is noteworthy as showing an extended concepti...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    UNDERSTANDING. Hebrew. _binah_ (Proverbs 1:2). Same word as in Proverbs 15:21, but not in Proverbs 15:32. SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE. Illustrations: Solomon ...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _seeketh … feedeth on_ The one delights in the active pursuit of knowledge, which ever creates in those who find it a craving for more; the other lies down like a satiated animal, and feeds and rumina...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 15:12-22 12. A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise. 13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. 14. T...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE. "The heart," because such a o...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1. GRIEVOUS] i.e. annoying. 'If one pour in hot water let the other pour in cold.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 15 V1 A quiet answer reduces anger. But an impatient word increases anger....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Both a fool and a wise man have important desires. The wise man wants more knowledge. The fool wants foolish things. By ‘fool’, Solomon means someone who hates wisdom. For a fool, this is like his nee...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לֵ֣ב נָ֭בֹון יְבַקֶּשׁ ־דָּ֑עַת _וּ_†_פִ֥י_† כְ֝סִילִ֗ים...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 16 A PASSIONATE DISPOSITION "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger." In the LXX there is another clause inserted at the beginning.- Proverbs 15:1 "A meek t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    KIND WORDS AND GLAD HEARTS Proverbs 15:1-17 _A soft answer; the tongue of the wise; a wholesome tongue; the lips of the wise; the prayer of the upright_ -these keywords touch one of the greatest depa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Verse Proverbs 15:11. This is a simple method of drawing attention to God's perfect knowledge of all the deepest and hidden things. If that which is most full of mystery to us is perfectly known to Hi...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE,.... He that has in his heart an understanding of divine and spiritual things, of the Gospel and of the truths of it, will seek earnestly and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. Ver. 14. _The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge._] As a hungry man seek...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance;_ &c. “When the mind of a man is inwardly satisfied, and full of joy, it does good to his body too, as appears in his cheerful countenance: but when grief...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    V. 14. THE HEART OF HIM THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING SEEKETH KNOWLEDGE, for he is anxious always to increase in true wisdom, as it applies to the various situations in life; BUT THE MOUTH OF FOOLS FEEDETH...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Their hearts are set upon wickedness, which is meat and drink to them....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 15:14 heart H3820 understanding H995 (H8737) seeks H1245 (H8762) knowledge H1847 mouth H6310 (H8675)...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MAN OF UNDERSTANDING OVERCOMES ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ENJOYS A LIFE OF PLEASANTNESS WHILST THE FOOL CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES TROUBLE (PROVERBS 15:14). This subsection is in an inclusio concernin...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Proverbs contrasting good and evil. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: The course of the wicked man is an abomination to God, neither is there any offering he can make to God that can be accepte...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 15:1. _A soft answer turneth away wrath._ It bows to the tempest, it names a mitigating circumstance, it gives a favourable turn to misconstruction, it proposes a better way. My father, said...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 15:1 This is a series of proverbs dealing primarily with speech, submission to instruction, and God’s providence. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 15:13 These proverbs focus on the HEART. A CHEERFUL FACE indicates a positive attitude toward life. Such a person has inner joy (v....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 15:14. MOUTH, or “the countenance.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 15:13_ A CHEERFUL FACE AND A BROKEN SPIRIT I. THE OUTER MAN IS TO A LARGE EXTENT AN INDEX OF THE INNER LIF...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 15:1 A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH. Two things are here to be observed: an answer should be given—the injured person should not wrap himself in sullen silence; and that answer...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Fifteen. I love this first one here. A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). How oftentimes a person comes just raging and a soft answer turns away wrath. If...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 3:6; 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 17:11; Hosea 12:1; Isaiah 30:10;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Foolishness — Wickedness is meat and drink to them....

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