16 Better H2896 is little H4592 with the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 than great H7227 treasure H214 and trouble H4103 therewith.
Better H2896 is a little H4592 with righteousness H6666 than great H7230 revenues H8393 without right. H4941
He that loveth H157 silver H3701 shall not be satisfied H7646 with silver; H3701 nor he that loveth H157 abundance H1995 with increase: H8393 this is also vanity. H1892 When goods H2896 increase, H7235 they are increased H7231 that eat H398 them: and what good H3788 is there to the owners H1167 thereof, saving H518 the beholding H7207 H7212 of them with their eyes? H5869 The sleep H8142 of a labouring man H5647 is sweet, H4966 whether he eat H398 little H4592 or much: H7235 but the abundance H7647 of the rich H6223 will not suffer H3240 him to sleep. H3462
And whatsoever mine eyes H5869 desired H7592 I kept H680 not from them, I withheld H4513 not my heart H3820 from any joy; H8057 for my heart H3820 rejoiced H8056 in all my labour: H5999 and this was my portion H2506 of all my labour. H5999 Then I looked H6437 on all the works H4639 that my hands H3027 had wrought, H6213 and on the labour H5999 that I had laboured H5998 to do: H6213 and, behold, all was vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit, H7307 and there was no profit H3504 under the sun. H8121
Yea, I hated H8130 all my labour H5999 which I had taken H6001 under the sun: H8121 because I should leave H3240 it unto the man H120 that shall be after H310 me. And who knoweth H3045 whether he shall be a wise H2450 man or a fool? H5530 yet shall he have rule H7980 over all my labour H5999 wherein I have laboured, H5998 and wherein I have shewed myself wise H2449 under the sun. H8121 This is also vanity. H1892 Therefore I went about H5437 to cause H2976 my heart H3820 to despair H2976 of all the labour H5999 which I took H5998 under the sun. H8121 For there is H3426 a man H120 whose labour H5999 is in wisdom, H2451 and in knowledge, H1847 and in equity; H3788 yet to a man H120 that hath not laboured H5998 therein shall he leave H5414 it for his portion. H2506 This also is vanity H1892 and a great H7227 evil. H7451 For what hath H1933 man H120 of all his labour, H5999 and of the vexation H7475 of his heart, H3820 wherein H1931 he hath laboured H6001 under the sun? H8121 For all his days H3117 are sorrows, H4341 and his travail H6045 grief; H3708 yea, his heart H3820 taketh not rest H7901 in the night. H3915 This is also vanity. H1892
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Pr 15:1-33.
1. soft—tender or gentle.
turneth … wrath—from any one.
stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth … aright—commends knowledge by its proper use.
poureth out—utters abundantly (Pr 12:23), and so disgusts others.
3. beholding—watching (compare Pr 5:21; Ps 66:7).
4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language.
tree of life—(Pr 3:18; 11:30).
perverseness therein—cross, ill-natured language.
breach … spirit—(compare Isa 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.
5. (Compare Pr 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18).
is prudent—acts discreetly.
6. treasure—implying utility.
trouble—vexation and affliction.
7. (Compare Pr 10:20, 21).
heart … not so—not right, or vain.
8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer—are acts of worship.
way … followeth … righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Ps 50:17; Isa 1:11.
10. (Compare Pr 10:17).
the way—that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13; Ps 119:1).
11. Hell—(Ps 16:10).
destruction—or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.
12. (Compare Pr 9:8).
go unto the wise—to be instructed.
13. maketh … countenance—or, "benefits the countenance."
spirit is broken—and so the countenance is sad.
14. (Compare Pr 10:21, 22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).
15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition.
evil—sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.
16. trouble—agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).
17. dinner—or, "allowance" (2Ki 25:30)—
of herbs—and that the plainest.
and hatred—(compare Pr 10:12, 18).
18. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32).
19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a
plain [and open] way—literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Ps 1:3).
20. (Compare Pr 10:1).
21. walketh uprightly—and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6; 10:23).
22. Without counsel—or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.
23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.
24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.
25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22; 12:7).
border—or, "boundary for possessions" (Ps 78:54).
26. are pleasant words—that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8, 9).
27. (Compare Pr 11:17). Avarice brings trouble to him and his.
hateth gifts—or, "bribes" (Ex 23:8; Ps 15:5), and is not avaricious.
28. (Compare Pr 15:14; 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.
29. far … wicked—in His love and favor (Ps 22:11; 119:155).
30. light of the eyes—(Pr 13:9). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so
good report—or, "doctrine" (Isa 28:9; 53:1),
maketh … fat—or, "gives prosperity" (Pr 3:13-17; 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first.
31, 32. (Compare Pr 10:17).
reproof of life—which leads to life.
abideth … wise—is numbered among them.
32. refuseth—or, "neglects," "passes by" (Pr 1:25; 4:15).
despiseth … soul—so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.
33. The fear … wisdom—Wisdom instructs in true piety.
before … humility—(compare Lu 24:26; 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).