Proverbs 15:21-31

21 ¹Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding ²walks straight ahead.

22 ³Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and ⁴a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward ⁵for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25 The Lord tears down the house of ⁶the proud but ⁷maintains ⁸the widow’s boundaries.

26 ⁹The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but ¹⁰gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is ¹¹greedy for unjust gain ¹²troubles his own household, but he who hates ¹³bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous ¹⁴ponders how to answer, but ¹⁵the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The Lord is ¹⁶far from the wicked, but he ¹⁷hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 ¹⁸The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and ¹⁹good news refreshes^[a] the bones.

31 ²⁰The ear that listens to ²¹life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Proverbs 15:21-31 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. 15:21 ch. 10:23
• 2. 15:21 [Eph. 5:15]
• 3. 15:22 ch. 11:14; [ch. 20:18]
• 4. 15:23 ch. 25:11; [Isa. 50:4]
• 5. 15:24 Col. 3:1, 2; [ch. 2:18, 19; Phil. 3:20]
• 6. 15:25 [ch. 29:23]
• 7. 15:25 [ch. 23:10]
• 8. 15:25 [Ps. 68:5; 146:9]
• 9. 15:26 ch. 6:16, 18
• 10. 15:26 ch. 16:24
• 11. 15:27 ch. 1:19; [Isa. 5:8; Jer. 17:11]
• 12. 15:27 ch. 11:29; [Josh. 7:25]
• 13. 15:27 ch. 17:23
• 14. 15:28 Ps. 37:30
• 15. 15:28 [1 Pet. 3:15]; See ver. 2
• 16. 15:29 [Ps. 18:41; 34:16]
• 17. 15:29 Ps. 145:18, 19; [ver. 8]
• 18. 15:30 Ps. 38:10
• 19. 15:30 [ch. 25:25]
• 20. 15:31 ver. 5; ch. 20:12; 25:12
• 21. 15:31 [ch. 6:23]

Footnotes

• [a] 15:30 Hebrew 'makes fat'