Proverbs 15:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 15:1"A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger."A truism like this needs no comment. Quiet, inoffensive speech has been effective in preventing many a violent encounter. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 15:1. A soft answer turneth away wrath— Lord Bacon applies this aphorism particularly to a man's behaviour towards a prince or other great person, when he is angry with him. Solomon advises two things in this case; the one is, that an answer be made; the other, that it be soft; the first of which contains three precepts; first, that you beware of a sad and sullen silence, which either charges the fault wholly upon yourselves, or impeaches your master of injustice; as if his ears were... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 15:1

1. soft—tender or gentle. turneth . . . wrath—from any one. stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 15:1-33

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 15:1-33

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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 15:1-33

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Proverbs 15:1-33

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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Proverbs 15:1-33

Some regard the division now entered upon as the original nucleus of the whole collection of proverbs (see the first sentence of verse one). The division extends really to the close of chapter 22, and contains “maxims, precepts and admonitions with respect to the most diverse relations of life.” In so much of it as is covered by the present lesson we have a contrast “between the godly and the ungodly, and their respective lots in life.” We have this contrast set before us, first in general... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Proverbs 15:1-33

The Soft Answer, Etc. Proverbs 15:1 , Proverbs 15:3 , Pro 15:10 Understand by "a soft answer," not a reply marked by intellectual feebleness, but one inspired by the very spirit of modesty and graciousness. Such an answer cannot be returned as a mere art, because the wrath to which it replies excites natural surprise and indignation, and may be supposed to necessitate a communication in its own key and temper. The soft answer is unique by contrast. It is so unexpected, so unlike the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Proverbs 15:1-6

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is... read more

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