---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Proverbs 15:1. A soft answer — Gentleness will often disarm the most furious, where positive derangement has not taken place; one angry word will al"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/proverbs/15"
---

Verse [Proverbs 15:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/1). ***A soft answer*** — Gentleness will often disarm the most furious, where positive derangement has not taken place; one angry word will always beget another, for the disposition of one spirit always begets its own likeness in another: thus kindness produces kindness, and rage produces rage. Universal experience confirms this proverb.

Verse [Proverbs 15:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/2). ***Useth knowledge aright*** — This is very difficult to know: - *when* to *speak*, and *when* to be *silent; what* to *speak,* and *what* to leave *unspoken*; the *manner* that is best and most suitable to the *occasion*, the *subject*, the *circumstances*, and the *persons*. All these are difficulties, often even to the wisest men. Even *wise counsel* may be *foolishly* given.

Verse [Proverbs 15:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/3). ***The eyes of the Lord*****are*****in every place*** — He not only sees all things, by his omnipresence, but his *providence* is everywhere. And if the consideration that *his eye is in every* *place*, have a tendency to *appal* those whose *hearts are not right* *before him*, and who seek for *privacy*, that they may *commit* *iniquity*; yet the other consideration, that his *providence* is *everywhere*, has a great tendency to encourage the upright, and all who may be in *perilous* or *distressing* circumstances.

Verse [Proverbs 15:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/4). ***A wholesome tongue*****is*****a tree of life*** — Here again is an allusion to the paradisiacal tree, עץ חיים *ets chaiyim*, "the tree of lives."

Verse [Proverbs 15:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/8). ***The sacrifice of the wicked*****is*****an abomination*** — Even the most *sedulous attendance* on the *ordinances* of God, and *performance* of the *ceremonies of religion*, is an abomination to the Lord, if the *heart* be not right with him, and the observance do not flow from a principle of pure devotion. No *religious acts* will do in place of *holiness to the Lord*.
***The prayer of the upright*****is*****his delight.*** — What a *motive* to be *upright*; and what a motive to the upright to *pray*! But who is the *upright*? The man who is *weary of sin*, and *sincerely desires* the salvation of God; as well as he who has already received a measure of that salvation. Hence it is said in the next verse, "He loveth him that followeth after righteousness."

Verse [Proverbs 15:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/11). ***Hell and destruction*** — שאול ואבדון *sheol vaabaddon*. *Hades*, the invisible world, the place of separate spirits till the resurrection: and *Abaddon*, the place of *torment*; are ever under the eye and control of the Lord.

Verse [Proverbs 15:13](../../../kjv/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*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/16). ***Better*****is*****little with the fear of the Lord*** — Because where the fear of God is, there are *moderation* and *contentment* of spirit.

Verse [Proverbs 15:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/17). ***Better*****is*****a dinner of herbs*** — Great numbers of *indigent* *Hindoos* subsist wholly on *herbs*, fried in oil, and mixed with their rice.

Verse [Proverbs 15:19](../../../kjv/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*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/22). ***But in the multitude of counsellors*** — [Proverbs 11:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/11/14). But רב יועצים *rob yoatsim* might be translated, chief or master of the council, the prime minister.

Verse [Proverbs 15:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/24). ***The way of life*****is*****above to the wise*** — There is a *treble* antithesis here:
1. The way of the *wise*, and that of the *fool*.
2. The one is *above*, the other *below*.
3. The one is of *life*, the other is of *death*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/25). ***The house of the proud*** — Families of this description are seldom continued long. The Lord hates *pride*; and those that will not be *humble* he will *destroy*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/27). ***He that is greedy of gain*** — He who *will* be rich; *troubleth his own house*-he is a torment to himself and his family by his avariciousness and penury, and a curse to those with whom he deals.
***But he that hateth gifts*** — Whatever is *given to pervert judgment*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/28). ***The heart of the righteous studieth to answer*** — His tongue never runs before his wit, he never speaks rashly, and never unadvisedly; because he *studies*-ponders, his thoughts and his words.

Verse [Proverbs 15:29](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/29). ***The Lord*****is*****far from the wicked*** — He is neither near to *hear*, nor near to *help*.

Verse [Proverbs 15:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/30). ***The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart*** — Nature and art are continually placing before our view a multitude of the most resplendent images, each of which is calculated to give pleasure. The man who has a *correct judgment*, and an *accurate eye*, may not only *amuse*, but *instruct* himself endlessly, by the beauties of nature and art.

Verse [Proverbs 15:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/31). ***The ear that heareth the reproof*** — That receives it gratefully and obeys it. "Advice is for them that will take it," so says one of our own old proverbs; and the meaning here is nearly the same.

Verse [Proverbs 15:32](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/32). ***Despiseth his own soul*** — That is *constructively*; for if the instruction lead to the *preservation* of *life* and *soul*, he that neglects or despises it throws all as much in the way of danger as if he actually hated himself.

Verse [Proverbs 15:33](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/33). ***The fear of the Lord*** — [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7). Much is spoken concerning this *fear*;
1. It is the *beginning of* *wisdom*.
2. It is also the *beginning of knowledge*. And,
3. It is the *instruction of wisdom*. Wisdom derives its most important lessons from the fear of God. He who fears God much, is well taught.
***And before honour*****is*****humility.*** — That is, few persons ever arrive at *honour* who are not *humble*; and those who from low life have risen to places of trust and confidence, have been remarkable for humility. We may rest assured that the *providence* of God will never elevate a proud man; such God beholds *afar off*. He may get into places of trust and profit, but God will *oust* him, and the people will curse him, and curse his memory. So will it ever be with bad ministers and advisers of the crown.

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