What does Proverbs Chapter 15 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 15 begins mild answer breaking wrath and harsh word stirring fury; wise tongue adorns knowledge, fool mouth bubbles folly. God’s eyes behold good and evil everywhere. Peaceable tongue is life’s tree, immoderate shall crush spirit. Fool mocks father’s instruction, reproof-regarder shall grow prudent; abundant justice has greatest strength, wicked devices shall uproot. Just house has strength, wicked fruit trouble; wise lips shall spread knowledge, fools’ heart unlike. Wicked victims are abominable, just vows acceptable; wicked way abominable, justice-follower loved. Instruction grieves life-way forsaker, reproof-hater shall die. Hell and destruction are before Lord, how much more human hearts? Corrupt man avoids reprover and wise.

Glad heart cheers face, grief casts spirit down. Wise heart seeks instruction, fool mouth feeds folly. Poor days are evil, secure mind continual feast; little with Lord’s fear better than uncontented treasures, invitation to herbs with love better than fatted calf with hatred. Passion stirs strife, patience appeases. Sloth’s way thorn hedge, just way without offence. Wise son gladdens father, foolish despises mother; folly delights fool, wise straightens steps. Counsel absence defeats designs, many counselors establish. Mouth’s sentence rejoices, timely word best; wise life path above avoids lowest hell.

Lord will destroy proud house and strengthen widow borders. Evil thoughts abominable, beautiful pure words shall be confirmed. Greedy gain troubles house, bribe-hater shall live; mercy and faith purge sins, Lord’s fear avoids evil. Just mind studies obedience, wicked mouth overflows evils. Lord far from wicked will hear just prayers. Eye light rejoices soul, good name fattens bones. Life-reproof ear shall abide with wise; rejecting instruction despises soul, yielding has understanding. Lord’s fear is wisdom’s lesson, humility precedes glory. Future help is not reported completed and bodily images are not clinical treatment.

The story inside

Opening: Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Development: Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Conclusion: Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution.
2
Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation.
3
Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 68458–68466
15:1. A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury. 15:2. The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth out folly. 15:3. The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil. 15:4. A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
Lines 68501–68505
continual feast. 15:16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content.
Lines 68552–68556
15:32. He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he that yieldeth to reproof, possesseth understanding. 15:33. The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.