Reflections on Proverbs 15

 Proverbs 15 (Contemporary English Version)

1. A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.
   
2. Words of wisdom come from the wise, but fools speak foolishness.
   
3. The LORD sees everything, whether good or bad.
   
4. Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.
   
5. Don't be a fool and disobey your parents. Be smart! Accept correction.
   
6. Good people become wealthy, but those who are evil will lose what they have.
   
7. Words of wisdom make good sense; the thoughts of a fool make no sense at all.
   
8. The LORD is disgusted by gifts from the wicked, but it makes him happy when his people pray.
   
9. The LORD is disgusted with all who do wrong, but he loves everyone who does right.
   
10. If you turn from the right way, you will be punished; if you refuse correction, you will die.
    
11. If the LORD can see everything in the world of the dead, he can see in our hearts.
    
12. Those who sneer at others don't like to be corrected, and they won't ask help from someone with sense.
    
13. Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.
    
14. Anyone with good sense is eager to learn more, but fools are hungry for foolishness.
    
15. The poor have a hard life, but being content is as good as an endless feast.
    
16. It's better to obey the LORD and have only a little, than to be very rich and terribly confused.
    
17. A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
    
18. Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.
    
19. Being lazy is like walking in a thorn patch, but everyone who does right walks on a smooth road.
    
20. Children with good sense make their parents happy, but foolish children are hateful to them.
    
21. Stupidity brings happiness to senseless fools, but everyone with good sense follows the straight path.
    
22. Without good advice everything goes wrong-- it takes careful planning for things to go right.
    
23. Giving the right answer at the right time makes everyone happy.
    
24. All who are wise follow a road that leads upward to life and away from death.
    
25. The LORD destroys the homes of those who are proud, but he protects the property of widows.
    
26. The LORD hates evil thoughts, but kind words please him.
    
27. Being greedy causes trouble for your family, but you protect yourself by refusing bribes.
    
28. Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
    
29. The LORD never even hears the prayers of the wicked, but he answers the prayers of all who obey him.
    
30. A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong.
    
31. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise.
    
32. You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it.
    
33. Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.

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Solomon continued, in chapter 15, to contrast the wise and the foolish. The themes of previous chapters continue. Following those themes Solomon says about the wise:

• They are counted among the righteous: The wise person pursues righteousness out of a fear or respect for the Lord. As Solomon states repeatedly, this is where wisdom begins. Once one has chosen to fear the Lord and pursue righteousness, the other attributes listed here will follow right behind.
  
• They use the tongue for good: This involves giving a gentle answer, give healing words, thinking before answering, and broadcasting knowledge. Choosing to use the tongue for good is a choice to consider the good of others ahead of our own. Indirectly we also benefit from this choice, for most often the way others treat us is a reflection of how we treat them.
  
• They are open to receive instruction: Therefore, the wise heed correction, they listen to life-giving rebukes, and to correction. This is the choice of the person who is reflective and has a more serious thought than the next fun thing to do.
  
• They are discerning: The wise are discerning and therefore seek knowledge, take advantage of advisers, and seek the upward path in whatever they pursue.
  
• They have a cheerful heart: The sense here is that being cheerful is a choice. One either chooses to be cheerful or to be sad. Since our moods are normally affected by our perceptions of circumstances, it follows that the choice of being cheerful involves choosing to interpret circumstances in a positive light rather than a negative one.
  

Since Solomon uses contrasting statements about the wise and foolish such as, "A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath," the actions and choices of the foolish can be assumed by imagining the opposite attributes to those in this list. Such actions and choices make no sense to the person who seeks wisdom. They have no frame of reference to even wrap their mind around it. There is nothing reasonable or logical about it. Only the foolish person can understand it, but would be hard-pressed to explain it.