Proverbs 15:19

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. THE WAY OF THE SLOTHFUL (MAN IS) AS AN HEDGE OF THORNS. It seems to him as if a hedge of thorns was in his way, if he has any work to do; especially so when he is urged to enter upon the way of the Lord's commandments (). He sees difficulties where all is plain to the willing and the resolute (; ). BUT THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS MADE PLAIN - or 'is raised as a level causeway,' since he is the opposite of "slothful;" that is, industrious; whereas, "the slothful" is the opposite of "righteous;" that is, unrighteous. Righteousness takes difficulties out of the way, and by frequent action...

Verse Proverbs 15:19. _THE WAY OF THE SLOTHFUL_ MAN IS _AS A HEDGE OF THORNS_] Because he is _slothful_, he imagines _ten thousand_ difficulties in the way which cannot be surmounted; but they are all the creatures of his own _imagination_, and that imagination is formed by his _sloth_....

The slothful goes on his journey, and for him the path is thick set with thorns, briars, fences, through which he cannot force his way. For the “righteous” (better, upright), the same path is as the broad raised causeway of the king’s highway. Compare Isaiah 40:3....

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

THE WAY OF THE SLOTHFUL [MAN IS] AS AN HEDGE OF THORNS,.... Or, "strewed with thorns", as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; the Targum is, "the ways of the slothful are briers and thorns.'' Either really being made so by his own conduct; who, by his slothfulness, has implicated and entangled himself in such difficulties, that he cannot extricate himself; his way is not passable, at least not very easily; it is as it were hedged up with thorns; see Hosea 2:6; or in his own apprehensions; who raises such difficulties about doing business, which to him seem insurmountable; at least which discourage him from attempting it, it being like breaking through thorns and briers; hence he will not plough because of the cold, nor go abroad because there is a lion in the streets, Proverbs 20

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...

THE RIGHTEOUS. upright ones. MADE PLAIN. a raised road. Illustration: Eleazar (Genesis 24:12; Genesis 24:26; Genesis 24:27; Genesis 24:52.Psalms 37:23; Psalms 37:23)....

_a hedge of thorns_ which may be either of his own making (Proverbs 24:30-31), or of his own imagining (Proverbs 22:13). _made plain_ "Heb. _raised up as a causey_" (archaic form of _causeway_), A.V. marg.; _made a high way_, R.V. Comp. Isaiah 57:14; Isaiah 62:10, where the same Heb. word occurs....

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