15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle [1] tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools. [2]
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!
12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20 A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22 Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow's boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes [3] the bones.
31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle [1] tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools. [2]
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!
12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20 A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22 Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow's boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes [3] the bones.
31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
2 comments:
v28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Firstly (of first importance),it is obvious that we must have a good/righteous heart as nothing good can come out from an evil heart.
(i.e. the "what" issue)
Luke 6:45 "A good person produces good from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil person produces evil from an evil treasure, because the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."
Secondly, it is the manner in which we speak that good treasure from our heart.
(i.e. the 'how' issue)
As long as we speak the 'truth' or the 'good' from our heart, does it really matter how we speak them?
Unfortunately ,contradict to what we would like to believe, the bible tells us that it matters and it matters a lot.
Our proverb today has made it abundantly clear that the "how" is equally important as the "what" in our words and in our answers to others
soft answer (v1), gentle[healing!] tongue (v2), slow to anger (v18)..
Heaven know that whenever I am critical about some things or some issues, my mouth speak carelessly. But God ask us to "ponder" on how to answer.. to heal and not break (v4), to build up and not to tear down (1 Thess 5:11).
Even when we have the opportunity to share (or to answer others) with the most glorious truth of the good news, Apostle Peter asked us to share it courteously and respectfully. (1 peter 3:15). So what make us think we can just simply says other things (which is so subjective compare with the great truth of the gospel)carelessly?
Question: How difficult it is to speak the truth in love?
My Answer: very ..very difficult.
It is so difficult that we sometime(or most of the times?) choose not to speak at all. It is so difficult that only the holy spirit can help us.
So help us Lord, holy spirit..
v3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,keeping watch on the evil and the good.
The Lord sees and the Lord knows.
In our recent cell lesson, we learned that He is the one walking among the churches with blazing eyes. (Rev 1:12-14).
He sees through even our hearts:-
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;how much more the hearts of the children of man!.. v11
Nothing escape His eye.
In the subsequent cell lessons, we have learned (and more to come) that He is also the one who know..
"I know your works.."
"I know you are enduring.."
"I know your tribulation.."
"I Know.."
"I know.." ..
(Rev 2-3)
Because He sees and He knows, the destiny of the wicked/evil is most dreadful:
"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord".. v9a
"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.." v26a
Because He sees and knows, the righteous should be bold and rejoicing.
"He love him who pursues righteousness" ..9b
"He hear the prayer of the righteous" ..29b
Because He sees and He knows, don't give up, beloved brothers and sisters!
Irrespective of the difficulties we may be going through, no matter how many setbacks we get, let's resolve in our hearts to walk in the fear of the Lord.
Let us resolve to please Him in every thought and every action.
Let us resolve to do good.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Your good work in Him will not be in vain because the Omnipresent Lord sees, the Righteous Judge knows..
the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good! (v3)
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