Proverbs 15:15

15 All the days of a poor man be evil; a secure soul is a continual feast. (All the days of the poor be evil; the life of a secure soul is a continual feast.)

Proverbs 15:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted [are] evil
And some are afflicted all their days, from their youth up; so that not only the days of old age are evil days, in which they have no pleasure, but even the days of their youth; all their days, as Jacob says, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been", ( Genesis 47:9 ) ; because they had been filled up with affliction and trouble of one sort or another. Or, "all the days of the poor" ^F6; either in purse, who want many of the good things of life; or in knowledge, as Gersom and Aben Ezra observe; but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast;
a heart that has "the kingdom of God" in it, which lies "not [in] meat and drink, but [in] righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost", ( Romans 14:17 ) : which has the love of God shed abroad in it by the Spirit, where Christ dwells by faith; and that lives by faith on him, and on the provisions of his grace; all this is a constant continual feast to a gracious soul, made joyful hereby.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (yne) "pauperis", V. L. Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 15:15 In-Context

13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face; (but) the spirit is cast down in the mourning of (the) soul.

14 The heart of a wise man seeketh teaching; and the mouth of fools is fed with unknowing, (or with ignorance).

15 All the days of a poor man be evil; a secure soul is a continual feast. (All the days of the poor be evil; the life of a secure soul is a continual feast.)

16 Better is a little with the dread of the Lord, than many treasures and unfillable. (Better is a little with the fear of the Lord/with reverence for the Lord, than many treasures and troubles.)

17 It is better to be called to worts with charity, than with hatred to a calf made fat. (It is better to be warmly, or cordially, called to herbs, or vegetables, than to be hatefully invited to share a fattened calf.)