Proverbs 15:4 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father`s correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.

Proverbs 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "gentle", "tongue", "tree", "life", "perverseness", "therein", and "breaking". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "gentle", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "The eyes of Jehovah are in every..." into verse 5's "A fool despiseth his father s correction...", so "Spirit" and "gentle" 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 "Spirit" and "gentle" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.