Proverbs 15:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.


Proverbs 15:4 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 A wholesome H4832 tongue H3956 is a tree H6086 of life: H2416 but perverseness H5558 therein is a breach H7667 in the spirit. H7307


Proverbs 15:4 American Standard (ASV)

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.


Proverbs 15:4 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 A healed tongue `is' a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.


Proverbs 15:4 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

4 Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.


Proverbs 15:4 World English Bible (WEB)

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.


Proverbs 15:4 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

Cross Reference

Proverbs 3:18 KJV

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Proverbs 12:18 KJV

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 16:24 KJV

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Genesis 3:22-24 KJV

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Psalms 52:2-4 KJV

The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Psalms 109:22 KJV

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

Proverbs 18:8 KJV

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 18:14 KJV

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Malachi 4:2 KJV

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

1 Timothy 6:3 KJV

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Proverbs 26:22 KJV

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Revelation 2:7 KJV

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Commentary on Proverbs 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 15

Pr 15:1-33.

1. soft—tender or gentle.

turneth … wrath—from any one.

stir up—as a smouldering fire is excited.

2. useth … aright—commends knowledge by its proper use.

poureth out—utters abundantly (Pr 12:23), and so disgusts others.

3. beholding—watching (compare Pr 5:21; Ps 66:7).

4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language.

tree of life—(Pr 3:18; 11:30).

perverseness therein—cross, ill-natured language.

breach … spirit—(compare Isa 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.

5. (Compare Pr 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18).

is prudent—acts discreetly.

6. treasure—implying utility.

trouble—vexation and affliction.

7. (Compare Pr 10:20, 21).

heart … not so—not right, or vain.

8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer—are acts of worship.

way … followeth … righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Ps 50:17; Isa 1:11.

10. (Compare Pr 10:17).

the way—that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13; Ps 119:1).

11. Hell—(Ps 16:10).

destruction—or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.

12. (Compare Pr 9:8).

go unto the wise—to be instructed.

13. maketh … countenance—or, "benefits the countenance."

spirit is broken—and so the countenance is sad.

14. (Compare Pr 10:21, 22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).

15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition.

evil—sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.

16. trouble—agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).

17. dinner—or, "allowance" (2Ki 25:30)—

of herbs—and that the plainest.

and hatred—(compare Pr 10:12, 18).

18. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32).

19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a

plain [and open] way—literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Ps 1:3).

20. (Compare Pr 10:1).

21. walketh uprightly—and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6; 10:23).

22. Without counsel—or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.

23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.

24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.

25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22; 12:7).

border—or, "boundary for possessions" (Ps 78:54).

26. are pleasant words—that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8, 9).

27. (Compare Pr 11:17). Avarice brings trouble to him and his.

hateth gifts—or, "bribes" (Ex 23:8; Ps 15:5), and is not avaricious.

28. (Compare Pr 15:14; 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.

29. far … wicked—in His love and favor (Ps 22:11; 119:155).

30. light of the eyes—(Pr 13:9). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so

good report—or, "doctrine" (Isa 28:9; 53:1),

maketh … fat—or, "gives prosperity" (Pr 3:13-17; 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first.

31, 32. (Compare Pr 10:17).

reproof of life—which leads to life.

abideth … wise—is numbered among them.

32. refuseth—or, "neglects," "passes by" (Pr 1:25; 4:15).

despiseth … soul—so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.

33. The fear … wisdom—Wisdom instructs in true piety.

before … humility—(compare Lu 24:26; 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).