Proverbs 15:26-33
 
Prov 15:26 (KJB)
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
 
Thoughts - Plans or intentions
Pure - Clean
 
The Lord is the one who searches the hearts and knows what is in every man. (John 2:24 KJV) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, Jesus knows the thoughts and intents of all men including the wicked. They may think they are able to devise plans which are evil without the Lord knowing it but He sees and weighs all the intentions. Those evil plans which the wicked concoct are considered an abomination unto the Lord and these thoughts reveal what is in the hearts of those who devise such plans. It shows that they are unsaved. On the other hand, the words of the saved are literally “sayings of pleasantness.” That is because the saved do not have the same motives and intentions that the unsaved have because they are regenerated through the Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the saved bring the truth to people and do not devise schemes against others. They bring the teachings of Scripture and bring the salvation of God to others which is the most pleasant words a person can hear.
 
Prov 15:27 (KJB)
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
 
He that is greedy - Denotes the presence of dishonesty, greed, and injustice
Troubleth - Brings ruin or disaster
Gifts - Bribes
 
The one who attempts to gain as much as he can using any type of method he can, whether it is legal or illegal, will bring much trouble to their house. It does not matter to these people whether they have a family or not because they do not care who it affects. Their concern is to make money and gain power and they do not care who they step on to achieve it. Many families have been ruined because of the effort of one or two trying to forge ahead at any cost. It also shows the spiritual condition of the person involved in greedy gain, that their eyes are focused upon this world and not their eternal future. On the other hand, the one who refuses to take a bribe shows their spiritual condition that money is not the driving factor in their life. Their saved condition allows them to look at money as something that they do not focus their life on and live for the accumulation of it. Since this life is passing, the saved know that everything earned in this life needs to be used for the Kingdom of God and not to be hoarded.
 
Prov 15:28 (KJB)
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
 
Studieth - Meditate, ponder, or consider
Poureth - Gush
 
(James 1:19 KJV) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19 seems to bring to light this passage in Proverbs. Those who have been saved have learned to listen and not to react with a quick response. To give good and proper counsel requires a person to know the complete situation so a solution rather than an answer can be offered. This is especially true in biblical interpretation. One must study a verse completely taking into account context, grammar, and other considerations to give a proper interpretation of a passage. On the other hand, when you ask an unsaved person a question about something, instead of them pondering the question and possible answer for a while, they may just gush forth an answer which may sound good but may be all wrong. This verse also states that the mouth of the wicked is like a fountain which gushes forth evil because their heart is evil and whatever is in the heart of man will manifest itself visibly eventually.
 
Prov 15:29 (KJB)
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
 
Far - Distant
 
(Isa 59:1-2 KJV) Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: {2} But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. The Lord has distanced Himself from the wicked and does not hear their prayers. It is not that He does not physically hear them, it is that He does not answer those prayers because the unsaved are not His people, yet even to the unsaved God shows mercy by giving them health, wealth, families, the fun things in this world like beaches and mountains, etc. Sin is a barrier to answered prayer even for the believer. (Psa 66:18-19 KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: {19} But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. God hears the prayers of the righteous, that is, those how are redeemed through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, even as a Christian, if I am delving into some kind of sinful practice, God may choose not to give me an answer to my prayer. Even though my soul is perfectly clean, that still does not justify me expecting an answer to prayer if I am engaged in sinful practice.
 
Prov 15:30 (KJB)
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
 
(Mat 6:22 KJV) The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22 teaches that if our eyes, that is, our spiritual eyes are wide open, this will rejoice the heart of man. It would not be speaking of a physical light because within the physical light of this world would be sinful things. What rejoices the regenerated heart of man is the Gospel of Christ, especially when our spiritual eyes are on the narrow road and we see only Christ. A good report makes one fat, that is, the good report of the Gospel builds up a Christian and continues to make them fat with the true Gospel. Making the bones fat would mean that the skeletal structure in a person would be much stronger than normal and as a Christian continues to learn the truths of Scripture, they become much stronger than they were the previous day. (Phil 4:8 KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 shows us what is a good report and it all contains the different aspects of the Gospel message.
 
Prov 15:31 (KJB)
The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
 
Heareth - Hearing with Understanding
Reproof - Correction
Abideth - To lodge
 
Those who hear the proper reproof given by another and understand what is being said and why, gives evidence of the fact that they have an understanding ear. That understanding ear is not given to the unbeliever but this verse is speaking about the believer who receives, with understanding, a reproof or correction for some segment of their life which may have a weakness. Once they accept that reproof and correct the wrong thing in their life, they are considered to be lodging or abiding among the wise. The unbeliever, in their pride, does not want to take any reproof or even any advice and therefore they have a deaf ear to truth and correction. Eventually they will listen, especially when they are handed over to the Department of Corrections. The wise man will listen to the reproof and will heed the advice, thus making them wiser.
 
Prov 15:32 (KJB)
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
 
Refuseth - To be loose, lack of restraint, or abandon
Despiseth - Abhors
 
The first part of this verse is very specific. If you notice, it states that the one who refuses instruction hates his own soul. (Eph 5:29 KJV) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Every person is concerned about how well they make their body feel and yet the eternal part of the person is neglected. One who refuses instruction is showing that they are still unsaved because in their pride they refuse to take counsel. That counsel may be the eternal Gospel of Christ and the unbeliever only cares about the physical things in life and how they could benefit them. Their eyes do not see their invisible soul and the fact that it is the eternal part. Satan has this world so confused that people focus on the temporary, which is their body, and not their soul, which is eternal. This is why the verse is stating that they despise their own soul because they are neglecting it and allowing it to go to hell to suffer eternally. That is the biggest example of self-hatred I have ever heard of. The second part of this verse teaches us that those who are regenerated hear and understand reproof or correction and accept it graciously which cause their understanding and wisdom to grow.
 
Prov 15:33 (KJB)
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
 
A wise or saved person will accept instruction or correction from the Lord and will realize they are receiving it for their betterment as Christians. As they receive the instruction, they will thank the Lord for it and then put it into their lives and as they do this, the less time they will need to be chastised. Even Christians can sometimes go off track because we are still in bodies that lust after sin but when the Lord corrects us, He does it for our good and testimony. The second half of that verse teaches that before we receive the honor of being an obedient Christian, there must be a time of humbling to bring us back into the frame of obedience. Then as we mature through these corrections, people will see the improved spiritual life which we lead and will honor us by including us in their lives, for friendship and advice. So humility is always before honor because the humility stage is a stage of preparation, especially in the Christian life.

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