21 Folly H200 is joy H8057 to him that is destitute H2638 of wisdom: H3820 but a man H376 of understanding H8394 walketh H3212 uprightly. H3474
It is as sport H7814 to a fool H3684 to do H6213 mischief: H2154 but a man H376 of understanding H8394 hath wisdom. H2451
The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is the beginning H7225 of wisdom: H2451 a good H2896 understanding H7922 have all they that do H6213 his commandments: his praise H8416 endureth H5975 for ever. H5703
A wise H2450 man feareth, H3373 and departeth H5493 from evil: H7451 but the fool H3684 rageth, H5674 and is confident. H982
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
We take these verses together as forming a group which begins with a proverb regarding the good and evil which flows from the tongue, and closes with a proverb regarding the treasure in which blessing is found, and that in which no blessing is found.
Proverbs 15:1
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath,
And a bitter word stirreth up anger.
In the second line, the common word for anger ( אף , from the breathing with the nostrils, Proverbs 14:17) is purposely placed, but in the first, that which denotes anger in the highest degree ( חמה from יחם , cogn. חמם , Arab. hamiya , to glow, like שׁנה from ישׁן ): a mild, gentle word turns away the heat of anger ( excandescentiam ), puts it back, cf. Proverbs 25:15. The Dagesh in רּך follows the rule of the דחיק , i.e. , of the close connection of a word terminating with the accented eh, aah, ah with the following word ( Michlol 63b). The same is the meaning of the Latin proverb:
Frangitur ira gravis
Quando est responsio suavis