Proverbs 15:7 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

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

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

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

Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lips", "wise", "disperse", "knowledge", "heart", "foolish", and "doeth". 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 the righteous is..." 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.