Mockers resent correction,
    so they avoid the wise.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.

Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.

Proverbs 15:12-17

These are some interesting proverbs as they link wisdom to cheerfulness and/or lack of wisdom with unease. The first one, verse 12 shows those who resent correction avoiding the wise, so great is their resentment. Verse 13 shows cheerfulness as the result of a happy heart, and heartache crushing the spirit. A discerning heart seeks knowledge and a fool feeds on folly is the contrast in verse 14. Each of these 3 verses offers a way to be happy and cheerful, and a way to be unhappy.

In the last three verses, notice that we are seeing the results of the conditions of the heart mentioned in the first three verses. Verse 16 is a “Yahweh” verse (translated ‘the LORD’ in English).

Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.

Norice that the fear of the Lord is contrasted with turmoil. This continues with the overall notion that life without the Lord is the source of a great many of life’s difficulties. This is not to suggest that walking with God provides a problem-free existence, being in His presence makes dealing with the realities of life a great deal easier. Next time we will look at some of the other Yahweh texts in this section.