Proverbs 15:7 (DBY)

Passage

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but not so the heart of the foolish.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction; but he that regardeth reproof becometh prudent.

Proverbs 15:6 In the house of a righteous [man] is much treasure; but in the revenue of a wicked [man] is disturbance.

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but not so the heart of the foolish.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 15:9 The way of a wicked [man] is an abomination to Jehovah; but him that pursueth righteousness he loveth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lips", "wise", "disperse", "knowledge", "heart", and "foolish". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lips" and "wise", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "In the house of a righteous man..." into verse 8's "The sacrifice of the wicked is an...", so "lips" and "wise" 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 "lips" and "wise" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.