Proverbs 15:13

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. A MERRY HEART MAKETH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE. There is a sympathy between the body and the mind, so that a happy mind is reflected in the happy expression of countenance. BUT BY SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN - and therefore the countenance (supplied from the parallel clause) also wears an afflicted expression....

Verse Proverbs 15:13. _BY SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN._] Every kind of _sorrow worketh death_, but that which is the offspring of true repentance. This alone is healthful to the soul. The indulgence of a disposition to _sighing_ tends to destroy life. Every _deep sigh_ throws off a portion of the vital _energy_....

Some prefer to render the last clause, “In sorrow of heart the breath is oppressed.”...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 15:1 A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH. Two things are here to be observed: an answer should be given—the injured person should not wrap himself in sullen silence; and that answer should be gentle and conciliatory. This is tersely put in a mediaeval rhyme— "_Frangitur ira gravis_ _Quando est respensio suavis_." "Anger, however great, Is checked by answer sweet." Septuagint, "A submissive (ὑποπίπτουσα)_ _answer averteth wrath." Thus Abigail quelled the excessive anger of David by her judicious submission (1 Samuel 25:24, etc.). BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER. A word that causes vexation makes anger rise the higher. Ὁργῆς ματαίας εἰσὶν

A MERRY HEART MAKETH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE,.... Or, a "joyful heart" c; that is joyful in the God of its salvation; that rejoices in Christ Jesus; is filled with joy and peace through believing in him, in his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; that has a comfortable view of his justification by his righteousness, of peace and pardon by his blood, of the atonement of his sins by his sacrifice; to whom he has said, "be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee", Matthew 9:2; who has peace in him, though tribulation in the world: as such a man's heart must be made glad, this will make his countenance cheerful, or cause him to lift up his head with joy; as it is in natural things, so it is in spiritual ones; BUT BY SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN; a man is dejected, his spirits sink, and it is seen in his countenance: there is a great sympathy between the body

CHAPTER 15 THE BETTER THINGS One can read through the proverbs recorded in this chapter and ask the question, What are the better things? A soft answer which turneth away wrath is better than grievous words Proverbs 15:1. The tongue of the righteous which useth knowledge aright is better than the mouth of fools Proverbs 15:2. Better is the prayer of the upright than the sacrifice of the wicked Proverbs 15:8). Better is he that followeth after righteousness than the way of the wicked, for the one the Lord delights in, the other is an abomination Proverbs 15:9). Better is the heart that seeketh knowledge than to feed on fool

PROVERBS 15. This chapter makes no new departure. Proverbs concerning the moral government of the world again occupy the chief place. One (Proverbs 15:11) is noteworthy as showing an extended conception of the sphere of God's government. Earlier Heb. religion regarded Sheol as outside the kingdom of God; there the dead do not praise or remember Him. We have also some more psychological proverbs dealing with the value of cheerfulness. PROVERBS 15:2. UTTERETH ARIGHT: paraphrase rather than translation, lit. makes good. Read drops (as Deuteronomy 32:2; Job 29:22), a more natural contrast to pours out in...

MERRY. joyful, or glad....

TEXT Proverbs 15:12-22 12. A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise. 13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. 14. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly. 15. All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast. 16. Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. 17. Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 18. A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 19. The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is

1. GRIEVOUS] i.e. annoying. 'If one pour in hot water let the other pour in cold.'...