Proverbs 15:26

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. THE THOUGHTS OF THE WICKED ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: BUT (THE WORDS) OF THE PURE (ARE) PLEASANT WORDS - Hebrew, 'words of pleasantness.' Each clause is to be supplied from the other. "The thoughts of the wicked (and therefore also their words flowing from their thoughts) are an abomination to the Lord: but (the thoughts, and therefore) the words of the pure are pleasant words." According as the thoughts are bad or good, so the words are abomination or pleasantness before the Lord. It is a vain excuse for bad words to say, 'I meant no harm' (T. Cartwright). Gejer and Maurer translate, 'But pleasant words (i:e., words breathing grace, and not worldly vanity, ) are pure (i:e., acceptable) words.' Thus, "pure," or 'clean,' before the Lord, is antithet...

Some prefer the margin, and render, words of pleasantness are pure. Gracious words are to God as a pure acceptable offering, the similitude being taken from the Levitical ritual, and the word “pure” in half ceremonial sense (compare Malachi 1:11)....

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 THOUGHTS OF THE WICKED [ARE] AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD,.... They are known unto the Lord, who is the searcher of the heart, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of it; he knows they are vain and sinful, yea, that they are only evil, and that continually, and therefore are hateful and abominable to him; it may be rendered "the thoughts of evil", as by the Targum; or evil thoughts, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and the Oriental versions; but Aben Ezra interprets as we, the thoughts of a wicked man, which are never otherwise but evil; whereas in a good man, though there are many evil thoughts which are abominable to himself, yet there are some good thoughts, and which are pleasing to the Lord, as follows; BUT [THE WORDS] OF THE PURE [ARE] PLEASANT WORDS; that is, unto the Lord; which are the same with their thoughts, and are the effect of them, and so stand opposed to the t...

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 WICKED. an evil-doer. Hebrew. _ra'a_ same word as "evil" in Proverbs 15:3....

_thoughts of the wicked … pleasant words_ Lit. DEVICES OF EVIL … WORDS OF PLEASANTNESS. The contrast is between these, and then further between the former, as "abomination to Jehovah," and the latter as "pure," and therefore acceptable to Him. There is possibly, as Maurer suggests, a sacrificial reference ("sensu Levitico"); comp. Proverbs 15:8 above and "a pure offering," Malachi 1:11....

TEXT Proverbs 15:23-33 23. A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it! 24. To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath. 25. Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow. 26. Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words are pure. 27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live. 28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29. Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 30. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And good things make the bones fat. 31. T

15:26 [man] (d-6) Or 'Evil thoughts.'...