The big picture
Proverbs 15 opens in verse 1 with “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”, and closes in verse 33 with “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 33Proverbs 15:1-7
1–7: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:1–7 opens with “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” and reaches “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, with particular weight carried by knowledge, tongue, wise.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, answer, grievous. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 15:1-7
King James Version1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
5A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Proverbs 15:8-14
8–14: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD : but the…
Proverbs 15:8–14 opens with “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD : but the prayer of the upright is his…” and reaches “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, with particular weight carried by heart, LORD, abomination.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD : but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, delight, LORD. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 15:8-14
King James Version8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD : but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD : but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
11Hell and destruction are before the LORD : how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Proverbs 15:15-21
15–21: All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart…
Proverbs 15:15–21 opens with “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” and reaches “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, with particular weight carried by Better, strife, afflicted.
Context that brings the passage to life
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 15:15-21
King James Version15All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Proverbs 15:22-28
22–28: Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of…
Proverbs 15:22–28 opens with “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are…” and reaches “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, with particular weight carried by answer, house, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Naming Without keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 15:22-28
King James Version22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD : but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Proverbs 15:29-33
29–33: The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the…
Proverbs 15:29–33 opens with “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” and reaches “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, with particular weight carried by heareth, instruction, LORD.
Proverbs 15:29-33
King James Version29The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
31The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 15:1 begins with “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 15:11 forms a natural hinge: “Hell and destruction are before the LORD : how much more then the hearts of the children of men?”
The final note
Proverbs 15:33 leaves the reader with “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth, reproof help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.