Proverbs 15

A good man's words are weighty and prudent; his lips are as a tree of life to feed many; his speech is edifying: Proverbs 10:20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. Gracious words drop as silver from him, to the enriching the souls of others: But, Proverbs 15:2. the mout…

If a man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt, the holy flesh could not cleanse him, but he polluted that (Haggai 2:12). Till the kingdom of grace be in our hearts, ordinances do not purify us, but we pollute them; the prayer of an ungracio…

4. Consider the sad farewell this sin of adultery leaves; it leaves a hell in the conscience. Proverbs 15:4: The lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, her end is bitter as wormwood. The goddess Diana was so artificially drawn, that she seemed to smile upon those that came…

Question. But why does God delay an answer of prayer? Response. 1. Because he loves to hear the voice of prayer (Proverbs 15:8). The prayer of the upright is his delight.

Q. But how if they be not willing to be catechized? A. It is much more a sin and shame, if being ignorant they refuse to have their ignorance helped by being instructed (Psalm 58:5; Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 15:32). Q. But is it not indeed a reproach and shame to…

Behold, when we enter the profession of Christianity, we are set upon an high mountain: for the way of life is on high; and Christianity is the high calling of God. We therefore must be wise, as Solomon says, Proverbs 15:24, and look well to our conversation, having a strait wat…

Though none of our sincere essays at well-doing are such good works as to justify us, before that three times holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and whose pure eyes yet behold in our good works, a world of evil: yet our sincere essays are pleasing to our God, wh…

Who could scorn preferments, laugh at imprisonments, snatch up torments as crowns; and whose love to Christ burned hotter than the fire; insomuch that the heathens cried out, Vere magnus est Deus Christianorum; Great is the GOD of the Christians. 8. The prayers of a righteous ma…

4. It presses you to skill and watchfulness; you had need be sound in the faith, that you may discern between good and evil, yes to have your senses exercised (Hebrews 5, ult.). A soft credulity is soon abused; (Proverbs 15) the simple believes every word: there is no reason but…

He that will not hear the clapper must not pull the rope. 'Grievous words stir up anger,' says Solomon — Proverbs 15:1. Do not only pray and resolve against it, but get as far as you can out of the way of it.

The eye of God is upon the whole circle of the creatures' motion. In all the revolutions in the world, there is the eye of God's omniscience to see them, and the arm of his omnipotence to guide them: not the most retired corner, or the darkest cell, not the deepest cavern, or mo…

Such as they must perform to them, are duties of Instruction. Reforming. [Proverbs 13:24. He which keeps back his rod, hates his son, but he which loves him, does give him instructions betimes. Proverbs 15:32. He which withdraws himself from instruction, despises his soul: but h…

What heart-secrets devils know from the disposition of body, paleness, redness, trembling, dejected countenance, are good conjectures; and surer it may be than we can apprehend, but no certain knowledge. God only knows all the thoughts of man, and his secrets (1 Kings 8:39): "Fo…

Nature's dark candle cannot show it (verse 23). God understands the way thereof, and he knows the place thereof (Proverbs 15:24). The way of life is on high; the way of the life of all excellent lives is a high and an exalted way, every man knows it not.

For a man to rise early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness, not a sinful, but a provident care, and to avoid idleness, cannot endure to spend any idle time, takes all opportunities to be doing something, early and late, and loses no opportunity, go any way and…

"He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you." And you shall have it with contentment (Proverbs 15:6): "In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble." And better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with sin…

It further makes a man to yield of his right, and not to prosecute the matter in rigor, and extremity, and so it is opposed to severity (1 Corinthians 4:21): Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and the Spirit of meekness? Hence arises another property; it bridles the ton…

But above all we see how they scorn God with a desperate presumption, as if by their fetches they were able to dazzle his eyes. For when they purpose to beguile the simple, it suffices that they may do it closely: as if perhaps, they could deceive his eyes [who in all places beh…

Second, if you would improve your assurance, preserve a clear conscience, both towards God and man. A good conscience is a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15). Assurance — I may say of it as the Father speaks of the Holy Ghost and the comforts thereof — the Spirit of God is a very…

Certainly if the fire of those sacrifices had delighted God, if he had smelled a savor of rest in them (as he is said to have done, when Noah offered sacrifice after the flood (Genesis 8:21)) he would never have sent a fire from Heaven to consume them. That is conceived by expos…

The Israelites in the wildernes were not content with Manna, but would needes have flesh to eate, and God gaue them their desire, but while the flesh was in their mouthes, his wrath fell upon them: therefore let us lust after no more then God gives upon our sober use of lawfull…

3. A sort of shame may be in it, I am now out of a posture, and I think shame to rise, and to be seen: Which shows, 1. That it's hard to raise one that has fallen into security. 2. To lazy souls every thing looks like an insuperable difficulty, their way to duty is as an hedge o…

Render not evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but on the contrary blessing (1 Peter 3:9). The second blow breeds the quarrel, and the second reviling word breeds the strife; give to a hard speech the return of a soft answer (Proverbs 15:1): A soft answer turns away wrath, b…

2. To compose a soft answer. This Solomon commends as a proper expedient to turn away wrath, while grievous words do but stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). When any speak angrily to us, we must pause a while, and study an answer, which both for the matter and manner of it, may be mi…

If he has but a little, he has it from God's love, and with his blessing, and behold all things are clean and comfortable to him. The wise man has determined it (Proverbs 17:1): Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife: and (Pro…

The money which Micah's mother had, was her God (it is Bishop Hall's note) before it had the shape either of a graven or a molten image, else the loss of it would not have set her a cursing, as it seems it did (Judges 17:2). Those that are greedy of gain, trouble their own heart…

When the Spouse in the Song of Solomon had given a description of her beloved to the daughters of Jerusalem, the same who before had scornfully asked, what is your beloved more than another beloved? Now as seriously enquire, where is your beloved gone, that we may seek him with…

Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poyson of Asps is under their Lips, their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. But to be short, we find the Spirit of God in Scripture comparing the Tongue to a Tree, Proverbs 15:4. A wholesome…

The many good fruits which the Holy Spirit notes to proceed from due reproof do show that it is a duty of which parents ought to make conscience as they desire to promote the good of their children: and so much the rather because many good fruits redound to the parents that repr…

But now the Lord sees whether his will be kept, yes or no. (Proverbs 15:3) The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Wherever you are, God is with you.

A sermon (Number 177) delivered on Sabbath morning, February 14, 1858, At The Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens, by C. H. Spurgeon. “Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?” — Proverbs 15:11. You have often smiled at the ign…

A sermon (Number 1948) delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain."—Proverbs 15:19. You must have noticed how frequently godly people almost wear out th…

Who would not come with their humble addresses to God, when he is so pleased with them? Proverbs 15:8. But my deserts are nothing?

This satisfaction shall not cease; it shall be a Cordial in death, and a Crown after death. 7. The fear of God makes a little to be sweet, Proverbs 15:16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord.

3. It is so dangerous to miss it, that this should quicken us to be earnest with God. 1. It is so worthy to be found, it is the way to eternal life, and escape eternal death, and in matters of such a concern no diligence can be too much (Proverbs 15:24). The way of life is above…

For the will is known by fixedness of intention, and earnestness of prosecution; he that makes it his work to grow great in the world. So (Proverbs 15:27). He that is greedy of gain, troubles his own house. Desires are the vigorous motions of the will, when they are eager, impat…

3. He is neither ignorant nor forgetful of our prevarications and disobedience. The Rechabites were tender of the commandment of their dead father (Jeremiah 35), who could not take cognizance of their actions; Our father commanded us: certainly we should be tender of the command…

Pride is a sure note and forerunner of destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Proverbs 15:25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud; but he will establish the border of the widow. Weak and oppressed innocence stands upon surer terms than the proud, though they excel in wealth and…

First, an enlightened understanding: that is, the directive part of the soul; and it is sound, when it is kept free from the leaven and contagion of error. (Proverbs 15:21) A man of understanding walks uprightly. A sound mind is a good help to a sound heart.

And therefore the wise man tells us, a word spoken in season, how good is it? It is like apples of gold in pictures of silver, that is, very beautiful and pleasing (Proverbs 15:23). There are some happy seasons wherein the most rugged natures are accessible; and it is a great pa…

There is as much difference between a good and bad tongue, as between soundness and wounds, health and sickness. Yet once more (Proverbs 15:4) a wholesome tongue is a tree of life (which is for healing) but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit: and a wounded spirit who…

A fool will not hearken to counsel (Proverbs 12:15). Indeed though instruction come from a father, yet a fool despises it (Proverbs 15:5). Though you add correction to instruction, yet one reproof enters more into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool (Proverbs 17:10).

Persons of quality and honor that are used to, and deserve civility, will not bear such provoking words, nor take them but on the point of their rapier, and return it to the giver's throat. Great sins are committed from such beginnings; therefore Solomon tells us (Proverbs 15:1)…

The pains of hell got hold of me; there's no ease in hell. 3 Destruction is joined with it, to be in hell is to be destroyed (Proverbs 15:11). Hell and destruction are before him, and he can destroy body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

In good men God accepts (very often) the will for the deed, if to will be present with them, though to do they have not power; if they be as willing to do as to will the deed, God accepts the will for the deed, though they cannot do it (2 Corinthians 8:12; Matthew 26:41). So whe…

Hunger after that righteousness which delivers from death (Proverbs 10:2). This is the righteousness which God himself is in love with (Proverbs 15:9): He loves him that follows after righteousness. All men are ambitious of the king's favor — but what is a prince's smile but a t…

So Chrysostom and Theophylact render it; through Christ God is favorable toward us and takes all we do in good part. A wicked person being out of Christ is out of favor; as his plowing is sin (Proverbs 21:14), so his praying is an abomination (Proverbs 15:8). God will not come n…

Excellency 6. Grace has a soul-raising excellency; it is a divine sparkle that ascends. When the heart is divinely touched with the lodestone of the Spirit, it is drawn up to God (Proverbs 15:24): the way of life is above for the wise. Grace raises a man above others; he lives i…

This fruit is sweet and mellows, growing under the Sun of Righteousness; this is that ripe fruit God delights to taste of (Micah 7:1). The fruit of good discourse (Proverbs 15:4): a wholesome tongue is a tree of life. Gracious speeches fall from the lips of a godly man as fruit…

A man that has any love of cleanliness, if casually plunged into the mire, he knows not what to do with himself; he fancies his own clothes to abhor him (as Job rhetorically speaks) so does as natural a pleasure attend purity: it has it even in itself. The words of the pure (say…