Text -- Proverbs 15:28 (NET)

15:28 The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 15:28

¹ tn The verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh) means “to muse; to meditate; to consider; to study.” It also involves planning, such as with the wicked “planning” a vain thing (Ps 2:1, which is contrasted with the righteous who “meditate” in the law [1:2]).

² tn The word “how” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tc The LXX reads: “the hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness.”

sn The advice of the proverb is to say less but better things. The wise – here called the righteous – are cautious in how they respond to others. They think about it (heart = mind) before speaking.

⁴ sn The form is plural. What they say (the “mouth” is a metonymy of cause) is any range of harmful things.