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Proverbs 16

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The Lord Directs Our Steps 1–9

1
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. ​
2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. ​
3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ​
4
The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. ​
5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. ​
6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. ​
7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ​

Wisdom for Kings and Rulers 10–15

10
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. ​
11
A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. ​
12
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. ​
13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15
In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. ​

The Primacy of Wisdom and Humility 16–24

16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! ​
17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ​
19
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ​

Paths of Life and Final Divine Control 25–33

25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. ​
26
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27
An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. ​
28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. ​
29
A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. ​
32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ​
33
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Proverbs 16

Verse 1

The preparations of the heart in man — The plan belongs to the heart and the 'answer of the tongue' to the LORD (ma'aneh, a reply). Christ promises the same for those brought before rulers: 'it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak' (Matt 10:19); 'I will give you a mouth and wisdom' (Luke 21:15).

Verse 2

the LORD weigheth the spirits — Takan, to weigh or measure, is the verb of 'by him actions are weighed' (1 Sam 2:3) and of 21:2, 'every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts'. The man's own verdict is 'clean'; the LORD's weighing reaches the spirit behind the way.

Verse 3

Commit thy works unto the LORD — Galal is to roll: roll the works upon the LORD, as in Ps 37:5, 'Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass'. The result, 'established', is kun, the word for 'directeth' in v.9 and for the throne in v.12.

Verse 4

the wicked for the day of evil — 'For himself' is built on ma'aneh, the 'answer' of v.1. The wicked are 'reserved to the day of destruction' (Job 21:30), and God 'endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction' (Rom 9:22).

Verse 5

an abomination to the LORD — To'evah, the word of the 'six things doth the LORD hate' (6:16), where 'a proud look' heads the list. 'Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished' is given in 11:21 with 'the wicked' as its subject. 'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble' (James 4:6).

Verse 6

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged — Chesed and emet are the LORD's own pair in Ex 34:6, 'abundant in goodness and truth'. 'Purged' is kaphar, the verb of atonement: 'the priest make an atonement for you' (Lev 16:30). The second line gives the way of departure: 'the fear of the LORD is to hate evil' (8:13).

Verse 9

the LORD directeth his steps — Kun, to establish, as in v.3 and v.12. The line matches the Psalm, 'The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD' (Ps 37:23), and Jeremiah's, 'O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself' (Jer 10:23). The heart 'deviseth'; the LORD sets the step.

Verse 10

A divine sentence — Qesem, an oracle or decision; elsewhere it is the word for divination (Deut 18:10; Num 23:23). The king's lips are to give a just verdict, and 'his mouth transgresseth not in judgment'. Wisdom says, 'By me kings reign, and princes decree justice' (8:15).

Verse 11

A just weight and balance — 'Just' is mishpat, judgment, the word of 'in judgment' in v.10 and 'disposing' in v.33. The law required it: 'Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God' (Lev 19:36). The bag held the weights (Deut 25:13).

Verse 12

the throne is established by righteousness — 'Established' is kun, as in vv.3 and 9. Prov 25:5 says the same: 'Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.' The ruler is required to be 'just, ruling in the fear of God' (2 Sam 23:3).

Verse 15

In the light of the king's countenance — The figure of the shining face is the priestly blessing, 'The LORD make his face shine upon thee' (Num 6:25). The 'latter rain' is given 'that thou mayest gather in thy corn' (Deut 11:14). Another proverb sets the king's wrath and favour side by side: 'his favour is as dew upon the grass' (19:12).

Verse 16

get wisdom than gold — Qanah, to get, is used twice, as in 4:7, 'get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding'. Wisdom herself says, 'Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold' (8:10), and 'wisdom is better than rubies' (8:11).

Verse 18

Pride goeth before destruction — Kishshalon, 'a fall' (a stumbling), occurs only here. The pair is repeated: 'Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility' (18:12), and 'When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom' (11:2).

Verse 24

as an honeycomb — The words of the LORD are the same: 'sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb' (Ps 19:10). Wisdom is likewise honey 'sweet to thy taste' (24:13–14). 'Health' is marpe, healing, the word of 4:22, where the words of wisdom are 'health to all their flesh'.

Verse 25

There is a way that seemeth right — The proverb is also given at 14:12. 'Right' is yashar, straight, the word of 21:2, 'Every way of a man is right in his own eyes'. Both verses end in the plural, 'the ways of death'.

Verse 27

An ungodly man diggeth up evil — 'Ungodly' is beliyyaal, the word that forms 'sons of Belial' (1 Sam 2:12); 'diggeth' is karah, the verb of digging a pit (26:27, 'Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein'). 'Burning' (tsarebeth) is the word for the 'burning boil' of Lev 13:23. 'The tongue is a fire' (James 3:6).

Verse 28

A froward man soweth strife — 'Froward' is tahpukoth, perversity, the 'froward mouth' that wisdom hates (8:13). Sowing strife is on the list of the seven abominations: 'he that soweth discord among brethren' (6:19). 'Separateth' (parad) is the verb of 17:9, 'he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends'.

Verse 31

The hoary head is a crown of glory — The honour is for grey hair 'found in the way of righteousness'. The law says, 'Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man' (Lev 19:32). Another proverb says, 'the beauty of old men is the gray head' (20:29).

Verse 32

slow to anger is better than the mighty — 'Slow to anger' is the LORD's own description, 'longsuffering' in Ex 34:6 (erek appayim). To rule one's spirit is better than to take a city: 'He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down' (25:28).

Verse 33

The lot is cast into the lap — The 'disposing' of it is mishpat, judgment, the word of vv.10–11. The apostles prayed first, 'Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen', and then 'they gave forth their lots' (Acts 1:24, 26); 'The lot causeth contentions to cease' (18:18).