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Proverbs 15:4 World English Bible (WEB)

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.

Cross Reference

Proverbs 3:18 WEB

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

Proverbs 12:18 WEB

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, But the tongue of the wise heals.

Proverbs 16:24 WEB

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Genesis 3:22-24 WEB

Yahweh God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever..." Therefore Yahweh God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Psalms 52:2-4 WEB

Your tongue plots destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah. You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.

Psalms 109:22 WEB

For I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

Proverbs 18:8 WEB

The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: They go down into a person's innermost parts.

Proverbs 18:14 WEB

A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, But a crushed spirit, who can bear?

Malachi 4:2 WEB

But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall.

1 Timothy 6:3 WEB

If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

Proverbs 26:22 WEB

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, They go down into the innermost parts.

Revelation 2:7 WEB

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

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).