Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. FOLLY (IS) JOY TO (HIM THAT IS) DESTITUTE OF WISDOM - (.) "Folly," i:e., sin. BUT A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING WALKETH UPRIGHTLY - conformably to the will of God, the true standard of right. The wicked being "destitute" of true "wisdom," have "joy" in (; cf. ), and therefore 'walk' in sin, which is crookedness. The godly being men of understanding, have "joy" in uprightness, and therefore 'walk' on in it. They are deeply sorry when they have been temporarily betrayed into sin (2 Corinthians 7:10)....

i. e., The empty-hearted, rejoicing in folly, goes the wrong way; the man of understanding, rejoicing in wisdom, goes the right way....

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

FOLLY [IS] JOY TO [HIM THAT IS] DESTITUTE OF WISDOM,.... Or "that wants a heart" q, a wise and understanding one; by "folly" is meant sin, for all sin is folly; and that is very pleasing and joyous to a wicked he chooses it and delights in it; instead of being ashamed of it, and sorry for it, he glories in it, and makes his boast of it; and not only takes pleasure in committing it himself, but also in those that do it; see Proverbs 10:23; BUT A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING WALKETH UPRIGHTLY; he who has his understanding enlightened by the Spirit of God; who has an understanding given him by the Son of God; who has a spiritual and experimental understanding of the Gospel, and the truths of it: he walks according to the rule of the divine word; he walks as he has Christ for an example, and by faith on him; and after the spirit, and not after the flesh: or "directs himself in wa

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...

WISDOM. Hebrew. _leb =_ "heart", put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct), App-6, for the knowledge it should possess. See note on Proverbs 1:2....

_wisdom_ Lit. HEART, as in Proverbs 11:12. _walketh uprightly_ Lit. MAKETH STRAIGHT HIS GOING. The parallelism consists in the contrast between the reckless "joy" with which the heartless fool revels in his "folly," and the care and caution with which a man of understanding makes straight his way. Comp. βλέπετε ἀκριβως πῶς περιπατεῖτε, μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι, ἀλλʼ ὡς σοφοί, Ephesians 5:15....

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

15:21 sense; (b-10) Strictly, 'heart.' see chs. 6.32; 11.12. walk. (c-18) Or 'walketh straight forwards,' or 'uprightly.'...