Proverbs 15:17-27

17 ¹Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than ²a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18 ³A hot-tempered man ⁴stirs up strife, but he who is ⁵slow to anger quiets contention.

19 The way of ⁶a sluggard is like a hedge of ⁷thorns, but the path of the upright is ⁸a level highway.

20 ⁹A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 ¹⁰Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding ¹¹walks straight ahead.

22 ¹²Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and ¹³a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward ¹⁴for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25 The LORD tears down the house of ¹⁵the proud but ¹⁶maintains ¹⁷the widow's boundaries.

26 ¹⁸The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but ¹⁹gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is ²⁰greedy for unjust gain ²¹troubles his own household, but he who hates ²²bribes will live.

Proverbs 15:17-27 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. Proverbs 17:1
• 2. [Matthew 22:4; Luke 15:23]
• 3. Proverbs 29:22; [Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 26:21]
• 4. Proverbs 28:25
• 5. See Proverbs 14:29
• 6. Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 22:13
• 7. Proverbs 22:5
• 8. Jeremiah 18:15
• 9. See Proverbs 29:3
• 10. Proverbs 10:23
• 11. [Ephesians 5:15]
• 12. Proverbs 11:14; [Proverbs 20:18]
• 13. Proverbs 25:11; [Isaiah 50:4]
• 14. Colossians 3:1, 2; [Proverbs 2:18, 19; Philippians 3:20]
• 15. [Proverbs 29:23]
• 16. [Proverbs 23:10]
• 17. [Psalms 68:5; Psalms 146:9]
• 18. Proverbs 6:16, 18
• 19. Proverbs 16:24
• 20. Proverbs 1:19; [Isaiah 5:8; Jeremiah 17:11]
• 21. Proverbs 11:29; [Joshua 7:25]
• 22. Proverbs 17:23