Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Proverbs 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Proverbs 15
"The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly." — Proverbs 15:2 (ASV)
Useth knowledge aright - Rather, makes knowledge commendable. The power of well-considered speech to commend true wisdom, is contrasted with the pouring (literally as in the margin) forth of folly.
"The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good." — Proverbs 15:3 (ASV)
The teaching which began with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) would not be complete without this assertion of His omnipresent knowledge.
"A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit." — Proverbs 15:4 (ASV)
A wholesome tongue - literally, as in the margin, the same word as “sound” in (Proverbs 14:30) (see the note). A more literal rendering would be soundness of speech.
Tree of life - Compare (Proverbs 3:18) note.
Breach in the spirit - With the sense of vexation .
"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so." — Proverbs 15:7 (ASV)
Not so - The word translated “so” is taken by some in its etymological force as “strong,” “firm,” and the passage is rendered “the heart of the fool disperses (supplied from the first clause) what is weak and unsteady,” i.e., “falsehood and unwisdom.” The Septuagint takes it as an adjective, “the heart of the fool is unsteadfast.” The phrase as it stands in the King James Version is, however, of frequent occurrence (Genesis 48:18; Exodus 10:11; Numbers 12:7).
"There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; [And] he that hateth reproof shall die." — Proverbs 15:10 (ASV)
Better, there is a grievous correction, that is, nothing less than death, to him who forsakes the way.
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