Proverbs 15:26 (ASV)

Passage

Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words [are] pure.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:24 To the wise the way of life [goeth] upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.

Proverbs 15:25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.

Proverbs 15:26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words [are] pure.

Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "evil", "devices", "abomination", "jehovah", "pleasant", "words", and "pure". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "evil" and "devices", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 25's "Jehovah will root up the house of..." into verse 27's "He that is greedy of gain troubleth...", so "evil" and "devices" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "evil" and "devices" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.