Proverbs 15:5

15:3. Secret sins, services, and sorrows, are under God's eye. This speaks comfort to saints, and terror to sinners. 4. A good tongue is healing to wounded consciences, by comforting them; to sin-sick souls, by convincing them; and it reconciles parties at variance. 5. If instruction is despised, reprove men rather than suffer them to go on undisturbed in the way to ruin. 6. The wealth of worldly men increases their fears and suspicions, adds strength to their passions, and renders the fear of death more distressing. 7. We use knowledge aright when we disperse it; but the heart of the foolish has nothing to disperse that is good. 8,9. The wicked put other things in the stead of Christ's atonement, or in the place of holy obedience. Praying graces are his gift, and the work of his Spirit, with which he is well pleased. 10. He that hates reproof shall perish in his sins, since he would not be parted from them.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction,.... They are fools that despise any instruction that is wise, good, and profitable; and especially a father's instruction, whose love, tender affection, and care, will not suffer him, knowingly, to give any but what is good and wholesome: wherefore to despise it is not only a contempt of his authority, but a slight of his love; which are both very aggravating, and sufficiently demonstrate his folly; and of which he may be himself convinced when it is too late, and say, "how have I hated instruction and despised reproof?" Proverbs 5:12 . He is a fool that despises the instruction of anyone superior to him in years and experience; of ministers of the word; and especially of our Father which is in heaven, declared in the sacred Scriptures, which are written for instruction in righteousness; but he that regardeth reproof is prudent; the reproof of a father, whose corrections are to be submitted to, and received with reverence; and especially of the Father of spirits, whose rebukes are in love, and for profit and advantage; yea, he is a wise man that regards the reproof of the word of God, and the ministers of it; and indeed of any Christian, whether his superior, equal, or inferior, as David did, Psalm 141:5.

Proverbs 15:5. A fool despiseth — Doth not regard nor obey; (which is an evidence of contempt;) his father’s instruction — Who hath both love to him and authority over him, which greatly aggravates his folly; but he that regardeth reproof — That is, is willing to receive, and duly regard the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father; is prudent — Hath already attained a great degree of wisdom, and prudently consults his own welfare and happiness.

Verse 5. - A fool despiseth his father's instruction ( Proverbs 10:1 ): but he that regardeth reproof is prudent ( Proverbs 19:25 ). The son who attends to his father's reproof dealeth prudently, or becomes wiser. Astutior fiet , Vulgate; πανουργότερος , Septuagint. The Vulgate has here a distich which is not in the Hebrew, but a similar paragraph is found in the Septuagint. Thus Vulgate, "In the abundance of righteousness virtue is greatest; but the imaginations of the wicked shall be rooted up;" Septuagint, "In the abundance of righteousness is much strength; but the impious shall be destroyed from the very root." The addition seems to have been an explanation of the following verse, which has been foisted into the text here. Proverbs 15:5

5 A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof is prudent. We may with equal correctness translate: he acts prudently (after 1 Samuel 23:22); and, he is prudent (after Proverbs 19:25). We prefer, with Jerome, Venet., and Luther, the latter, against the lxx, Syr., and Targ., because, without a doubt, the יערם is so thought of at Proverbs 19:25 : the contrast is more favourable to the former. It is true that he who regardeth reproof is not only prudent, but also that he is prudent by means of observing it. With line first cf. Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 1:30, and with line second, Proverbs 12:1. Luther translates: the fool calumniates...; but of the meanings of abuse (properly pungere) and scorn, the second is perhaps here to be preferred.

[Bible] 15:6. The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of the wicked is trouble. 15:7. The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike. 15:8. The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable. 15:9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that followeth justice is beloved by him. 15:10. Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth reproof shall die. 15:11. Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men? 15:12. A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go to the wise. 15:13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down. 15:14. The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. 15:15. All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast. 15:16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content. 15:17. It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred. 15:18. A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient appeaseth those that are stirred up. 15:19. The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the just is without offence. 15:20. A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth his mother. 15:21. Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps. 15:22. Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established. 15:23. A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due time is best. 15:24. The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell. 15:25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow. 15:26. Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.