Proverbs 15:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.

NIV: The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.

NASB: Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure.

CSB: The Lord detests the plans of the one who is evil, but pleasant words are pure.

NLT: The Lord detests evil plans, but he delights in pure words.

KJV: The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

NKJV: The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.

Earlier, this passage said that hypocritical rituals done by godless people are disgusting to God; that used the root word translated as "abomination" in this verse (Proverbs 15:8). The evil, ungodly thoughts of those who reject the Lord are also repulsive to Him. Evil thoughts give birth not only to wicked acts but also to wicked words (Matthew 12:34; 15:18–19; James 1:14–15).

Nothing is hidden from God, not even a person's thoughts (Hebrews 4:13). Although many people believe sin occurs only when thoughts become actions, thoughts themselves may be sinful (Matthew 5:21–22, 28). In the days before the flood in Noah's time, "the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). He responded by destroying mankind, excepting Noah and Noah's family.

However, the Lord hears pleasant, or gracious, words and deems them pure (Proverbs 15:26). The Hebrew adjective translated here as "pure" means something "pure," "clean," or even "fair." Believers receive exhortations in Scripture to avoid using wicked words and to use pleasant words instead. Colossians 3:8–9 admonishes us to put away "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk" and lies. That same passage later commands us to talk and act in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17).

Proverbs 15:13–30 continues Solomon's contrasting descriptions of the wise and the foolish. In this book, those ideas are associated with accepting or rejecting God's truth, respectively (Proverbs 1:7). He writes about the gladness of the upright, wise person and the depressing existence of the wicked, foolish person. He contrasts attitudes, thoughts, and actions of both kinds of individuals, and he states that the Lord is far from the wicked but close enough to the righteous to hear their prayers.

Solomon begins this chapter of Proverbs by addressing subjects such as anger and self-control and how those reactions produce different responses from others. That extends to how carefully a person guards their words, and their responses to questions. Wise people seek wisdom and humbly accept it. Foolish people are careless, lazy, or arrogant. Solomon also notes the importance of perspective, and once again commends those who sincerely seek godly wisdom.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.