Proverbs 15:23
A wise word spoken at the right moment brings joy and goodness.
23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
A wise word spoken at the right moment brings joy and goodness.
To teach that wise and timely speech brings joy both to the speaker and to those who hear it.
This saying sits within a cluster of Proverbs that contrast wise and foolish patterns in everyday life, with special attention to speech and counsel. The immediate context highlights the value of counsel and deliberation (15:22) and then returns to the path of life for the wise (15:24), situating verse 23 as a practical expression of wise living. Within the chapter, multiple proverbs treat the tongue as morally weighty and relationally powerful, capable of healing or harm. Verse 23 focuses on the positive form: a fitting answer and a word in season. The proverb’s parallel lines reinforce that both content (apt reply) and timing (in season) are integral to wisdom. The aim is not mere eloquence but discernment that serves what is good.
Proverbs communicates wisdom for covenant-shaped life in Israel, addressing speech as a key arena of moral formation and community health.
The LORD Sees Every Heart: Wise Speech, Teachable Correction, and the Path of Life
Because the LORD sees every heart and hears the righteous, wisdom receives correction, fears the LORD, speaks life-giving words, and walks the upward path of humility and life.