Provérbios 15
John Chrysostom · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Provérbios 15:1
"Anger even ruins the prudent: a soft answer turns away anger, but a painful word arouses rage." All things depend on our decision, certainly also to raise anger or to soothe. It is not the Lord who gets angry, but it is in our power to cause his anger or the opposite. And if anger even ruins the prudent, how much more will it ruin those about whom it was said [that] anger destroys the imprudent? And this certainly happens also to the prudent because of some negligence. But "a soft answer turns away anger," that is, a way of answering in open humility and without any harshness. — COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 15:1
Provérbios 15:4
"Sanity of tongue is the tree of life." The tongue which does not sin by speaking makes use of sanity: indeed the illness of the tongue is its sin. The one who can check his tongue and does not sin with it is filled with the Holy Spirit. — COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 15:4
Provérbios 15:17
When one invites to supper guests that are hungry and have an appetite, even if he lays a meager table it seems abundant owing to the anticipation of the guests who fall upon the dishes with great relish. In just the same way we too have confidence in your spiritual appetite and do not hang back, even if we have a poor and meager table, before laying it in customary manner before your good selves. This is what a certain sage also remarked: "Better a meal of vegetables with love than a beast from the manger with enmity," suggesting that love has a different view of what is set forth, and to its eyes ordinary things appear rich and scraps seem generous. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 45:1
Provérbios 15:17
"It is better the hospitality with vegetables." I will explain what [Solomon] says. If one fears God and also enjoys the benevolence of people, it is still better for him to have little property than an abundance. Indeed, pleasure is not in abundance, but abundance is in pleasure, as Hesiod says. One who neglects offenses settles the future judgments about them. A stupid person does nothing sensibly, whereas the judicious one directs, that is, displays actions of free opinion. Those who despise consulting other people about what must be done, despise advice. It then happens that those people, who think they are something when they are nothing, wander in error. — COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 15:17