Proverbs 15:15

15 All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted [are] evil
And some are afflicted all their days, from their youth up; so that not only the days of old age are evil days, in which they have no pleasure, but even the days of their youth; all their days, as Jacob says, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been", ( Genesis 47:9 ) ; because they had been filled up with affliction and trouble of one sort or another. Or, "all the days of the poor" ^F6; either in purse, who want many of the good things of life; or in knowledge, as Gersom and Aben Ezra observe; but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast;
a heart that has "the kingdom of God" in it, which lies "not [in] meat and drink, but [in] righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost", ( Romans 14:17 ) : which has the love of God shed abroad in it by the Spirit, where Christ dwells by faith; and that lives by faith on him, and on the provisions of his grace; all this is a constant continual feast to a gracious soul, made joyful hereby.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (yne) "pauperis", V. L. Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 15:15 In-Context

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.