Proverbs 15:13-23

13 ¹A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by ²sorrow of heart the spirit is ³crushed.

14 ⁴The 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 ⁵the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16 ⁶Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 ⁷Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than ⁸a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18 ⁹A hot-tempered man ¹⁰stirs up strife, but he who is ¹¹slow to anger quiets contention.

19 The way of ¹²a sluggard is like a hedge of ¹³thorns, but the path of the upright is ¹⁴a level highway.

20 ¹⁵A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 ¹⁶Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding ¹⁷walks straight ahead.

22 ¹⁸Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and ¹⁹a word in season, how good it is!

Proverbs 15:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 5

This chapter relates Solomon's preparation for building the temple: on Hiram, king of Tyre, sending a congratulatory letter to him, he returned another to him, signifying his intention to build an house for God, and requesting him to supply him with timber, and men to work it, 1Ki 5:1-6; to which Hiram readily agreed, and sent him cedar and fir, and Solomon in return sent him food for his household; and things went on very amicably between them, 1Ki 5:7-12; the chapter concludes with an account of Solomon's workmen, where, how, and in what they were employed, 1Ki 5:13-18.

Cross References

• 1. [ver. 15; Proverbs 17:22]
• 2. See Proverbs 12:25
• 3. Proverbs 18:14
• 4. Proverbs 14:6; Proverbs 19:24
• 5. ver. 13
• 6. Proverbs 16:8; Psalms 37:16; [1 Timothy 6:6]
• 7. Proverbs 17:1
• 8. [Matthew 22:4; Luke 15:23]
• 9. Proverbs 29:22; [Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 26:21]
• 10. Proverbs 28:25
• 11. See Proverbs 14:29
• 12. Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 22:13
• 13. Proverbs 22:5
• 14. Jeremiah 18:15
• 15. See Proverbs 29:3
• 16. Proverbs 10:23
• 17. [Ephesians 5:15]
• 18. Proverbs 11:14; [Proverbs 20:18]
• 19. Proverbs 25:11; [Isaiah 50:4]