This chapter is marked by many antitheses between the wise and the foolish and the topic of speech occurs several times (vv. 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 23, 26, 28). Notably frequent also are the yhwh sayings (“abomination,” vv. 8, 9, 26; “fear of the Lord,” vv. 16, 33). Their frequency in 14:26–16:15 has led some (Skehan, Studies, pp. 17–20) to ask if they were not added to provide a suture between the antithetical proverbs of chapters 10–15 and another group beginning in chapter 16.

15:1 Antithetic. For the idea see 25:15, where gentle is used of a tongue “breaking” a bone. Speech is a basic topic in this book. Throughout, the reader is confronted with various assertions about speech: when to be gentle, silent, cautious, or to speak at the right time (cf. v. 23).

15:2 Antithetic. The contrast betw…