"Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.""This stresses the element of choice in the career of the fool. The playboy follows his fancy; the man of discernment is concerned to set a straight course for his life."[21] "To act the idiot is fun to the empty-headed, but the man of intelligence forges straight ahead."[22] read more
21. walketh uprightly—and so finds his joy (Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 10:23). read more
8. Further advice for wise living chs. 14-15These proverbs are more difficult to group together under a general heading because there are fewer common ideas that tie them together. read more
The full thought behind this verse seems to be, "The wise son honors and gladdens his father, the foolish laughs at and saddens his mother." [Note: Toy, p. 311.] It may imply that the fool is callous toward his mother. [Note: Kidner, p. 116.] read more
1. Grievous] i.e. annoying. ’If one pour in hot water let the other pour in cold.’3. Beholding] RV ’keeping watch upon,’ as watching over a city (Isaiah 52:8), or the prophets over the people (Ezekiel 3:17). 4. Read, ’a soothing tongue.. a wound in the spirit.’7. Doeth not so] RM ’is not steadfast.’8. A costly offering from the one is unacceptable: the mere prayer of the other is accepted (Mark 12:42).11. Hell and destruction] RV ’Sheol and Abaddon.’ The latter means ’place of destruction’: cp.... read more
(21) Folly.—Shown in wasted opportunities, and the commission of evil (Proverbs 10:23), while the “man of understanding” directs his way in accordance with the will of God. read more
CHAPTER 16A PASSIONATE DISPOSITION"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger." In the LXX there is another clause inserted at the beginning.- Proverbs 15:1"A meek tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit."- Proverbs 15:4"A wrathful man stirreth up contention; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife."- Proverbs 15:18BAD temper causes more suffering than the modified severity with which we judge it would imply. It is in a... read more
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... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 15:20
"A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother."It would make a better balance here if `despiseth' is read `shameth'; and Deane assures us that the verb here may mean exactly that.[19] Another rendition is, "A wise son makes his father happy. Only a fool despises his mother."[20] read more