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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” By verse 4, the text has turned to “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” It lands on “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 6 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as knowledge, tongue, wise, anger, answer, aright tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include knowledge, tongue, wise, anger, answer. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: knowledge, tongue, wise, anger, answer, aright
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 15:1
“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 15:2
“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aright, foolishness, fools. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:3
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beholding, evil, eyes. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:4
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breach, life, perverseness. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:5
“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” The line’s distinctive content terms include despiseth, father’s, fool. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:6
“In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, revenues, righteous. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:7
“The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.” The line’s distinctive content terms include disperse, doeth, foolish. Its relationship to verses 6 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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD : but the prayer of the upright is…” By verse 11, the text has turned to “Hell and destruction are before the LORD : how much more then the hearts of the children of…” It lands on “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 4 stated contrasts, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as heart, LORD, abomination, loveth, wicked, broken tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Correction, Hell. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “Hell and destruction are before the LORD : how much more then the hearts of the children of men?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: heart, LORD, abomination, loveth, wicked, broken
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 15:8
“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 15:9
“The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD : but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, followeth, LORD. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:10
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Proverbs 15:11
“Hell and destruction are before the LORD : how much more then the hearts of the children of men?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Proverbs 15:12
“A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Proverbs 15:13
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, broken, cheerful. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:14
“The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feedeth, foolishness, fools. Its relationship to verses 13 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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual…” By verse 18, the text has turned to “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” It lands on “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 5 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as Better, strife, afflicted, anger, appeaseth, continual tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Better, All, Folly. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 18: “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: Better, strife, afflicted, anger, appeaseth, continual
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 15:15
“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 15:16
“Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Naming Better keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 15:17
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Naming Better keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Proverbs 15:18
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” The line’s distinctive content terms include strife, anger, appeaseth. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:19
“The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hedge, plain, righteous. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:20
“A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.” The line’s distinctive content terms include despiseth, father, foolish. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:21
“Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” Naming Folly 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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are…” By verse 25, the text has turned to “The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.” It lands on “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 5 stated contrasts, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as answer, house, LORD, mouth, wicked, words tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Without. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 25: “The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: answer, house, LORD, mouth, wicked, words
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 15:22
“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 15:23
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” The line’s distinctive content terms include answer, good, mouth. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:24
“The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beneath, depart, hell. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:25
“The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.” The line’s distinctive content terms include border, destroy, establish. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:26
“The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD : but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” The line’s distinctive content terms include words, abomination, LORD. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:27
“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Proverbs 15:28
“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” The line’s distinctive content terms include answer, evil, heart. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.
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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” By verse 31, the text has turned to “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” It lands on “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 stated contrasts, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as heareth, instruction, LORD, reproof, abideth, bones tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include heareth, instruction, LORD, reproof, abideth. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 31: “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: heareth, instruction, LORD, reproof, abideth, bones
Verse-by-verse path
- Proverbs 15:29
“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heareth, LORD, prayer. Its relationship to verses 30 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:30
“The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, eyes, good. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:31
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abideth, heareth, life. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:32
“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” The line’s distinctive content terms include despiseth, getteth, heareth. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Proverbs 15:33
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear, honour, humility. Its relationship to verses 32 shows what work it does in this passage.
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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
- Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
- Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.
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.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Proverbs 15?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Proverbs 15 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Proverbs 15 develops its own movement around LORD, heart, wicked, wise, mouth?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?
