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Good Sense Wins Favor

Proverbs 13:15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹⁵Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is hard.

Good sense wins favor: Here as in 12:8 good sense (שֵׂכֶל־טוֹב sekel-tov) refers to one who has understanding, is able to comprehend and understand, who is wise, possessing intelligence and prudence, enabling him to make good decisions. Wins favor (יִתֶּן־חֵן yitten-ben), literally means “gives grace,” that is, a person who is viewed favorably by others.

but the way of the treacherous is hard: The way (דֶּרֶךְ derek) refers to the path of conduct or behavior of the treacherous person. The treacherous (בָּגַד bagad) is one who violates standards, rules, and principles, not being faithful. This person is not trustworthy or reliable to any person or and standard, for it is about his will and purposes. The way (faithless path of conduct) of the treacherous (no standards) is hard (אֵיתָן ethan) in that this one’s manners are coarse (abrasive, harsh), ungracious, rough. The sense lacks refinement, cultivation, or taste. Coarse, ungracious, i.e., pertaining to manners that are rough (Pr 13:15+).

A person who feeds on God’s Word, the Bible has “good sense,” possesses good insight, sound judgment, and wise views, and he has no difficulty whatsoever in gaining the favor of others or finding favor with God. On the other hand, the wicked who rejects God’s Word is faithless, untrustworthy, and unreliable. His heart is “treacherous,” as he lives by his will and purposes, has callous behavior, and refuses to change his evil ways, as he is uninterested in the wise instruction of God, so he is on a path to ruin. His heart is treacherous, and he is mentally bent toward evil. (Jer. 17:9; Gen 6:5; 8:21) The calloused heart of this wicked one is hardened, unmoving, beyond repentance, unwilling, so unable to change. – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.