Proverbs 15:4 (GNV)

Passage

A wholesome tongue is as a tree of life: but the frowardnes therof is the breaking of ye minde.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise vseth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fooles babbleth out foolishnesse.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord in euery place beholde the euill and the good.

Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is as a tree of life: but the frowardnes therof is the breaking of ye minde.

Proverbs 15:5 A foole despiseth his fathers instruction: but he that regardeth correction, is prudent.

Proverbs 15:6 The house of the righteous hath much treasure: but in the reuenues of the wicked is trouble.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "The eyes of the Lord in euery..." into verse 5's "A foole despiseth his fathers instruction but...", so "wholesome" and "tongue" 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 "wholesome" and "tongue" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.