Proverbs 15:23

15:16,17. Believers often have enough when worldly eyes see little; the Lord is with them, without the cares, troubles, and temptations which are with the wealth of the wicked. 18. He that is slow to anger, not only prevents strife, but appeases it, if kindled. 19. Those who have no heart to their work, pretend that they cannot do their work without hardship and danger. And thus many live always in doubt about their state, because always in neglect of some duty. 20. Those who treat an aged mother or a father with contempt or neglect, show their own folly. 21. Such as are truly wise, study that their thoughts, words, and actions should be regular, sincere, and holy. 22. If men will not take time and pains to deliberate, they are not likely to bring any thing to pass. 23. Wisdom is needed to suit our discourse to the occasions. 24. A good man sets his affections on things above; his way leads directly thither.

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth,.... When his advice is asked, and he gives good and wholesome counsel, and that being taken succeeds; it is a pleasure to a man that he is capable of assisting his friend, and doing him service, or a common good, whether it be in things natural, civil, or religious; when his speech is with salt, seasoned with grace, and he knows how he ought to answer every man; when that which is good proceeds from him, and is to the use of edifying, and ministers grace to the hearers, and is acceptable to them; when with readiness he gives an answer to every man that asks him a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear, Colossians 3:6 , Ephesians 4:29 ; and a word spoken in due season, how good is it? whether by way of advice and counsel to such who stand in need of it, or of exhortation and instruction to those that want it, or of comfort to those that are distressed; such is a word of promise spoken and applied by the Spirit of God to the hearts of his people in a time of need; and such is the Gospel of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation, as spoken by Christ and his ministers to weary and wounded souls; it cannot be well and fully expressed how sweet, how good, how suitable, as well as seasonable, it is: see Proverbs 25:11.

By the answer, i.e. by a wise or good and seasonable answer or advice, as is manifest, both from the opposite clause, and from the nature of the thing, because it is manifest and undeniable, that a foolish answer can be no credit nor comfort to the answerer. Thus above, Proverbs 15:10 , the way is put for God’s way; and such synecdoches are frequent in Scripture. A word spoken in due season, counsel or comfort given to another in fit time and manner, how good is it! it is highly acceptable and useful.

Verse 23 - A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth. The idea of the preceding verse concerning counsel is maintained. A counsellor gives wise and skilful advice, or makes a timely speech; and, knowing how much harm is done by rash or evil words, he naturally rejoices that he has been able to be useful, and has avoided the errors which the tongue is liable to incur. A word spoken in due season, sermo opportunus , is advice given at the right moment and in the most suitable manner, when the occasion and the interests at stake demand it (comp. Proverbs 25:11 ). The LXX. connects this verse with the preceding, and renders, "The evil man will not hearken to it (counsel), nor will he say aught in season or for the public good." Proverbs 15:23

23 A man has joy by the right answer of his mouth; And a word in its season, how fair is it! If we translate מענה only by "answer," then 23a sounds as a praise of self-complaisance; but it is used of true correspondence (Proverbs 29:19), of fit reply (Job 32:3, Job 32:5), of appropriate answer (cf. 28a, Proverbs 16:1). It has happened to one in his reply to hit the nail on its head, and he has joy from that (שׂמחה ב after שׂמח בּ, e.g., Proverbs 23:24), and with right; for the reply does not always succeed. A reply like this, which, according to circumstances, stops the mouth or bringeth a kiss (Proverbs 24:26), is a fortunate throw, is a gift from above. The synonymous parallel line measures that which is appropriate, not to that which is to be answered, but from a general point of view as to its seasonableness; עת ( equals עדת from יעד) is here "the ethically right, becoming time, determined by the laws of wisdom (moral)" (vid., Orelli, Synonyma der Zeit u. Ewigkeit, p. 48), cf. על־אפניו (translated by Luther 'in its time"), Proverbs 25:11. With מה־טּוב, cf. Proverbs 16:16; both ideas lie in it: that such a word is in itself well-conditioned and successful, and also that it is welcome, agreeable, and of beneficial influence.

## The way of the righteous, who is always diligent in his calling, which is one branch of righteousness, and therefore is fitly opposed to the slothful , who is joined with the wicked, Mat_25:26, and censured as such both in Scripture and heathen authors, because idleness is both in itself a sin, and it leads the way to many other wickednesses. ## Is made plain; is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all his discouragements and difficulties. ## Proverbs 15:20 Maketh a glad father, by giving him that honour and obedience which he oweth to him. ## Despiseth his mother; whereby he maketh her sad. See Poole " Pro_10:1 " , where we have the same proverb. ## Proverbs 15:21 Is joy; he doth not only work wickedness, but taketh pleasure in it. ## Walketh uprightly, Heb. directeth or maketh straight his going , i.e. ordereth all his actions by the rule of God’s word, and delighteth in so doing, which is understood from the opposite clause. ## Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel, when men do not seek or will not receive advice from others in weighty affairs, ## purposes are disappointed; their designs are ill managed, and succeed accordingly. ## In the multitude of counsellors, i.e. of wise and good counsellors, for such only deserve that name, ## they are established, i.e. accomplished and brought to a good issue. ## Proverbs 15:23 By the answer, i.e.

## An eye, the organ of sight, by a metaphorical translation oftentimes denotes the mind, judgment, and knowledge; Genesis 16:4-5; Deuteronomy 15:18; 2 Samuel 15:17 ;Sam. vi. 22, Job 32:1; Psalms 15:4; Proverbs 3:7; 28:22; 30:12; Isaiah 5:21; Ecclesiastes 8:6; Matthew 6:22; John 5:35 . Hence the right eye is put for the greatest prudence, Ecclesiastes 11:10 . An evil eye, for a persevere and malignant mind, Deuteronomy 15:9; Proverbs 23:6; 28:22; Matthew 20:15; Mr 7:22 . A good eye, for a good and benevolent mind, Proverbs 22:9 , Ecclesiastes 35:9. An eye signifies a providential carefulness, sometimes a solicitude in evil, as Psalms 10:8 ;---17:8, (see 1 Samuel 18:9 ,) sometimes in good, Genesis 44:21; Numbers 10:31; Ruth 2:9; Job 29:15; Proverbs 1:25; 20:9,12; Ecclesiastes 2:14. Sometimes it denotes experience, Genesis 3:6 . Sometimes spiritual illumination or renewing of heart, Psalms 13:3; 119:18; Isaiah 32:3; Ephesians 1:18 . Sometimes spiritual blindness, Psalms 69:23; Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:15; John 12:40; Acts 28:27; Romans 11:8,10 . See Lamentations 5:17 . It denotes a fountain, Genesis 49:22; Exodus 15:27; Psalms 84:6; 114:8 . XXXX oculus et derivatum XXXX A tear, a humour flowing from the eyes of such as weep, metaphorically denotes wine and oil, because they drop as tears do, when the grapes or olives are bruised in the press, Exodus 22:29 , see Deuteronomy 7:13. Eye-salve denotes the spiritual healing of our natural darkness,