Westminster Annotations, Proverbs · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Vers. 1. ASoft answer turneth away wrath] Chap. 25. 15.
V. 2. but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishnesse] Verse 28. Chap. 12. 23. and 13. 16.
poureth] Heb. belcheth, or bubleth.
V. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good] Job 34. 21. Chap. 5. 21. Jere. 16. 17. and 32. 19. Heb. 4. 13.
V. 4. A wholesome tongue] Heb. the healing of the tongue.
V. 5. A fool despiseth his fathers instruction] Chap. 10. 1.
instruction] Or, rebuke.
but he that regardeth reproof, is prudent] Chap. 13. 18.
V. 6. but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble] A wicked man may get much wealth, but he hath much care and trouble with it, because Gods blessing goes not with it, Psal. 127. 2. whereas a good mans treasure may be his strength, and without trouble, through Gods blessing.
V. 7. disperse knowledge] Scatter it abroad in hope of increase, as husband-men do their seed, Psal. 112. 9.
doth not so] Or, is not right.
V. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord] Chap. 21. 27. Isai. 1. 11. and 66. 3. Jere. 6. 20. and 7. 22. Amos 5. 22. That thing is abominable before God, which the wicked think to be most excellent, and whereby they think to be most accepted: For they pray solemnly with sacrifice, God hates it: but he accepts the bare prayers of the godly, without sterifice.
V. 9. that followeth after righteousnesse] That followeth eagerly after it, Chap. 21. 21. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Heb. 21. 14.
V. 10. Correction] Or, instruction.
Correction is grieveus unto him] Or, A grievous correction shall befall him.
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way] He that swarveth in his whole course from Gods word, cannot endure to be reproved.
he that hateth reproof shall die] Chap. 5. 12, &c. and 10. 17.
V. 11. Hell and destruction are before the Lord] Job 26. 6. Psal. 139. 8. There is nothing so deep, or secret, that can be hid from the eyes of God: he knows the fools in hell, and the bodies in the grave, and much more mens thoughts here.
V. 12. one that reproveth him] Or, that one should reprove him.
V. 13. A merry heart maketh a cheerfull countenance] Chap. 17. 22.
but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken] Chap. 12. 25.
the spirit is broken] So much that a mans grief appears in his face.
V. 14. the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishnesse] Their heart receives foolishnesse, as their mouth receives meat; for all things are nourished by their like.
V. 16. Better is little with the fear of the Lord, then greatreasure, and trouble therewith] Psal. 37. 16. Chap. 16. 8. 1 Tim. 6. 6.
Better is little with the fear of the Lord] Which usually is without trouble, as on the contrary great troubles attend the treasures of them that fear not God.
V. 17. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, then a stalled ex, and hatred therewith] Chap. 17. 1.
a dinner of herbs] The word lignifies, a travailers dinner, a short and sudden one without preparation.
V. 13. A wrathfull man stirreth up strife] Chap. 26. 21. and 29. 22.
V. 19. The way of the slothfull man is as an hedge of thorns] He ever findeth some let or stay, and dares not go forward.
hedge of thorns] Hos. 2. 6.
but the way of the righteous] Then a slothfull man is not righteous, nor a righteous man slothfull.
is made plain] Heb. is raised up as a causey.
V. 20. A wise son maketh a glad father] Chap. 10. 1.
a foolish man despiseth his mother] And so grleves her: as on the contrary, the father is made glad by honouring him.
V. 21. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom] Chap. 10. 23. As fools rejoycing in evil live wickedly: so wisemen rejoycing in goodnesse live uprightly.
destriute of wisdom] Heb. void of heart.
V. 22. Without counsell, purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established] Or, Break purposes without counsell: for in the multitude of counsellers thou shalt be established.
Without counsell, purposes are disappointed] Chap. 11. 14. Things rashly undertaken are blown away like chaff.
counsellers they are established] Chap 10. 18.
V. 23. by the answer of his mouth] Answer is put for speech, though no man speak before, as it is often in the old and new testament.
a word spoken in due season, how good is it?] Chap. 25. 11. If we will that our talk be comfortable, we must wait for a seasonable time.
in due season] Heb. in his season.
V. 24. The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from bell beneath] Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 1, 2.
V. 25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud] Chap. 12. 7. and 14. 11.
he will establish the border of the widow] Who hath no cause to be proud.
V. 26. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord] Chap. 6. 18. Wicked mens thoughts and words displease God, good mens please him.
pleasant words] Heb. words of pleasantnesse.
V. 27. He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own house] Hinders the comfort of himself and his: whereas, he that hates bribes, so that he will not receive them offered, much lesse ask them, he and his shall live comfortably.
troubleth his own house] Chap. 11. 29.
V. 28. the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things] Rashly and abundantly, for lack of premeditation.
V. 29. The Lord is farre from the wicked] Psal. 34. 16. God is far off from wicked men, and will not hear their prayers: but he is nigh to good men, and hears them quickly: Therefore the former must not presume, nor the latter despair of the good successe of their prayers.
he heareth the prayer of the righteous] Psal. 145. 18.
V. 30. The light of the eyes rejoyceth the heart] As light delights the eyes; so good news, or a good name joyes the heart.
report] Heb. hearing, chap. 12. 25.
V. 31. The ear that beareth the reproof of life, abideth among the wise] Verse 5. That suffereth himself to be admonished by Gods word, that bringeth life, and so amendeth.
V. 32. instruction] Or, correction.
heareth] Or, obeyeth.
getteth understanding] Heb. possesseth an heart.
V. 33. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom] Job 28. 28.
before honour is humility] Chap. 18. 12. Meaning, that God useth to exalt them that are truely humble.