Proverbs 15:28

28 The soul of a just man bethinketh obedience; the mouth of wicked men is full of evils. (The righteous think before that they answer; but the ready reply of the wicked is usually full of evil.)

Proverbs 15:28 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer
He thinks before he speaks, meditates what he shall say, what answer to give to men; whether in things civil, natural, or religious; and what to return to the Lord when he is reproved by him; or what to say in prayer to him, or by way of thankfulness for mercies received from him; see ( Proverbs 3:6 ) ( Habakkuk 2:1 ) ; though our Lord advises his disciples, when summoned before their persecutors, not to meditate beforehand what they should answer, since they should have immediate assistance, ( Luke 21:14 ) ; but this was in extraordinary cases; in common ones the observation of the wise man should be attended to. A Jewish ^F21 writer renders the words, "the heart of the righteous meditates wormwood", or bitter things; see ( Proverbs 5:4 ) ; as the judgment of God, death, and hell; this sense is mentioned by Aben Ezra, but rejected; but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things;
without any previous thought and consideration, without fear or wit; in great abundance, as water out of a fountain; thus an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things readily and at once, having no concern about the consequences of things, ( Matthew 12:25 ) ; (See Gill on Proverbs 15:2).

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Kabvenaki.

Proverbs 15:28 In-Context

26 Evil thoughts is abomination of the Lord; and a clean word most fair shall be made steadfast of him. (Evil thoughts be an abomination to the Lord; but a most fair, and clean, word is his delight.)

27 He that followeth avarice, troubleth his house; but he that hateth gifts shall live (long). Sins be purged by mercy and faith; each man boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord (Sins be cleansed by love and faith; all can turn away from evil by the fear of the Lord/with reverence for the Lord).

28 The soul of a just man bethinketh obedience; the mouth of wicked men is full of evils. (The righteous think before that they answer; but the ready reply of the wicked is usually full of evil.)

29 The Lord is far from wicked men; and he shall hear the prayers of just men. (The Lord is far from the wicked; but he shall hear the prayers of the righteous.)

30 The light of (the) eyes maketh glad the soul; good fame maketh fat the bones. (Sparkling eyes make a person happy; good news fatteneth up the bones.)