UNROLL
Close on a low stone hearth, glowing coals darkened by water just poured over them, a gray curl of steam rising, a clay jug set down beside them.

Solomon’s sayings

Proverbs 15

Someone just snapped at you. The next ten seconds are in your mouth.

33 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–7The father's talksWhy the book exists, then a father to his son
  2. 8–9Wisdom callsHer house and Folly's
  3. 10–22:16Solomon's sayingsTwo lines at a timeChapter 15
  4. 22:17–24The sayings of the wiseThirty sayings, and a few more
  5. 25–29Hezekiah's collectionMore of Solomon, copied out later
  6. 30AgurNumbered sayings from a weary man
  7. 31LemuelA mother's words, and the noble wife

A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Sayings

Tongue, eyes, house

  1. Words

    Knowledge or folly

    The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

    but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

  2. The LORD

    Eyes in every place

    The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

    observing the evil and the good.

  3. Words

    A tree of life

    A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

  4. Wisdom

    Taking correction

    A fool rejects his father’s discipline,

    but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

  5. Money

    Treasure or trouble

    The house of the righteous has great treasure,

    but the income of the wicked is trouble.

  6. Words

    What the lips spread

    The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

    but not so the hearts of fools.

Silver-green new shoots breaking from an ancient gnarled olive trunk.

Live it

Take it home

Think of the last hard word you said. What would a gentle one have been? Is there still time to say it?

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD,

but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

The LORD detests the way of the wicked,

but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

Sayings

Open before Him

  1. Wisdom

    Leaving the path

    Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path;

    he who hates correction will die.

  2. The LORD

    Laid open to the LORD

    Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—

    how much more the hearts of men!

  3. Wisdom

    The mocker won’t ask

    A mocker does not love to be reproved,

    nor will he consult the wise.

  4. Joy and sorrow in the face

    A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance,

    but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.

  5. What fools feed on

    A discerning heart seeks knowledge,

    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Question

Quick question

Back to the dish of vegetables and the fattened ox.

What does a ‘Better… than’ saying weigh?

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

Sayings

The way up

  1. Family

    Father and mother

    A wise son brings joy to his father,

    but a foolish man despises his mother.

  2. Wisdom

    A straight path

    Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,

    but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

  3. Many advisers

    Plans fail for lack of counsel,

    but with many advisers they succeed.

  4. Words

    A timely word

    A man takes joy in a fitting reply—

    and how good is a timely word!

  5. Wisdom

    The path upward

    The path of life leads upward for the wise,

    that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

The LORD tears down the house of the proud,

but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

Sayings

What He hears

  1. The LORD

    Thoughts and words

    The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,

    but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.

  2. Money

    Unjust gain

    He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household,

    but he who hates bribes will live.

  3. Words

    Pondering an answer

    The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

    but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

  4. The LORD

    Whose prayer He hears

    The LORD is far from the wicked,

    but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

From behind a woman in a doorway, a messenger seen coming up a dusty road toward the village, his face bright.

The light of the eyes cheers the heart,

and good news nourishes the bones.

He who listens to life-giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

He who ignores discipline despises himself,

but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

0:22

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Say it to Him

LORD, You see every place, and You hear what I say when I think no one is listening. Slow my tongue. Give me the gentle word, and a heart that can take correction and be glad of it.

You’ve experienced

Proverbs 15

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A verse to carry with you

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

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