8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, But he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh-- How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; He will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face; But an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
We take these verses together as forming a group which begins with a proverb regarding the good and evil which flows from the tongue, and closes with a proverb regarding the treasure in which blessing is found, and that in which no blessing is found.
Proverbs 15:1
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath,
And a bitter word stirreth up anger.
In the second line, the common word for anger ( אף , from the breathing with the nostrils, Proverbs 14:17) is purposely placed, but in the first, that which denotes anger in the highest degree ( חמה from יחם , cogn. חמם , Arab. hamiya , to glow, like שׁנה from ישׁן ): a mild, gentle word turns away the heat of anger ( excandescentiam ), puts it back, cf. Proverbs 25:15. The Dagesh in רּך follows the rule of the דחיק , i.e. , of the close connection of a word terminating with the accented eh, aah, ah with the following word ( Michlol 63b). The same is the meaning of the Latin proverb:
Frangitur ira gravis
Quando est responsio suavis