1 The preparations H4633 of the heart H3820 in man, H120 and the answer H4617 of the tongue, H3956 is from the LORD. H3068
2 All the ways H1870 of a man H376 are clean H2134 in his own eyes; H5869 but the LORD H3068 weigheth H8505 the spirits. H7307
3 Commit H1556 thy works H4639 unto the LORD, H3068 and thy thoughts H4284 shall be established. H3559
4 The LORD H3068 hath made H6466 all things for himself: H4617 yea, even the wicked H7563 for the day H3117 of evil. H7451
5 Every one that is proud H1362 in heart H3820 is an abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 though hand H3027 join in hand, H3027 he shall not be unpunished. H5352
6 By mercy H2617 and truth H571 iniquity H5771 is purged: H3722 and by the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 men depart H5493 from evil. H7451
7 When a man's H376 ways H1870 please H7521 the LORD, H3068 he maketh even his enemies H341 to be at peace H7999 with him.
8 Better H2896 is a little H4592 with righteousness H6666 than great H7230 revenues H8393 without right. H4941
9 A man's H120 heart H3820 deviseth H2803 his way: H1870 but the LORD H3068 directeth H3559 his steps. H6806
10 A divine sentence H7081 is in the lips H8193 of the king: H4428 his mouth H6310 transgresseth H4603 not in judgment. H4941
11 A just H4941 weight H6425 and balance H3976 are the LORD'S: H3068 all the weights H68 of the bag H3599 are his work. H4639
12 It is an abomination H8441 to kings H4428 to commit H6213 wickedness: H7562 for the throne H3678 is established H3559 by righteousness. H6666
13 Righteous H6664 lips H8193 are the delight H7522 of kings; H4428 and they love H157 him that speaketh H1696 right. H3477
14 The wrath H2534 of a king H4428 is as messengers H4397 of death: H4194 but a wise H2450 man H376 will pacify H3722 it.
15 In the light H216 of the king's H4428 countenance H6440 is life; H2416 and his favour H7522 is as a cloud H5645 of the latter rain. H4456
16 How much better H2896 is it to get H7069 wisdom H2451 than gold! H2742 and to get H7069 understanding H998 rather to be chosen H977 than silver! H3701
17 The highway H4546 of the upright H3477 is to depart H5493 from evil: H7451 he that keepeth H5341 his way H1870 preserveth H8104 his soul. H5315
18 Pride H1347 goeth before H6440 destruction, H7667 and an haughty H1363 spirit H7307 before H6440 a fall. H3783
19 Better H2896 it is to be of an humble H8217 spirit H7307 with the lowly, H6035 H6041 than to divide H2505 the spoil H7998 with the proud. H1343
20 He that handleth a matter H1697 wisely H7919 shall find H4672 good: H2896 and whoso trusteth H982 in the LORD, H3068 happy H835 is he.
21 The wise H2450 in heart H3820 shall be called H7121 prudent: H995 and the sweetness H4986 of the lips H8193 increaseth H3254 learning. H3948
22 Understanding H7922 is a wellspring H4726 of life H2416 unto him that hath H1167 it: but the instruction H4148 of fools H191 is folly. H200
23 The heart H3820 of the wise H2450 teacheth H7919 his mouth, H6310 and addeth H3254 learning H3948 to his lips. H8193
24 Pleasant H5278 words H561 are as an honeycomb, H6688 H1706 sweet H4966 to the soul, H5315 and health H4832 to the bones. H6106
25 There is H3426 a way H1870 that seemeth right H3477 unto H6440 a man, H376 but the end H319 thereof are the ways H1870 of death. H4194
26 He H5315 that laboureth H6001 laboureth H5998 for himself; for his mouth H6310 craveth H404 it of him.
27 An ungodly H1100 man H376 diggeth up H3738 evil: H7451 and in his lips H8193 there is as a burning H6867 fire. H784
28 A froward H8419 man H376 soweth H7971 strife: H4066 and a whisperer H5372 separateth H6504 chief friends. H441
29 A violent H2555 man H376 enticeth H6601 his neighbour, H7453 and leadeth H3212 him into the way H1870 that is not good. H2896
30 He shutteth H6095 his eyes H5869 to devise H2803 froward things: H8419 moving H7169 his lips H8193 he bringeth H3615 evil H7451 to pass. H3615
31 The hoary head H7872 is a crown H5850 of glory, H8597 if it be found H4672 in the way H1870 of righteousness. H6666
32 He that is slow H750 to anger H639 is better H2896 than the mighty; H1368 and he that ruleth H4910 his spirit H7307 than he that taketh H3920 a city. H5892
33 The lot H1486 is cast H2904 into the lap; H2436 but the whole disposing H4941 thereof is of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 16
Commentary on Proverbs 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
Pr 16:1-33.
1. preparations—schemes.
in man—or literally, "to man," belonging, or pertaining to him.
the answer … Lord—The efficient ordering is from God: "Man proposes; God disposes."
2. clean—or, "faultless."
weigheth—or, "tries," "judges," implying that they are faulty (Pr 21:2; 24:12).
3. (Compare Margin). Rely on God for success to your lawful purposes.
4. for himself—"for its answer," or "purpose," that is, according to God's plan; the wicked are for the day of evil (Ps 49:5; Jer 17:18); sinning and suffering answer to each other, are indissolubly united.
5. (Compare Pr 3:32).
6. By mercy and truth—that is, God's (Ps 85:10); He effects the atonement, or covering of sin; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, "mercy" and "truth" may be man's, indicative of the gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon.
purged—expiated (as in Le 16:33; Isa 27:9, Hebrew).
7. Persecutions, of course, excepted.
8. (Compare Pr 15:6, 16, 17).
9. (Compare Pr 16:3).
directeth—establisheth.
10. The last clause depends on the first, expressing the importance of equity in decisions, so authoritative.
11. are the Lord's … his work—that is, what He has ordered, and hence should be observed by men.
12. Rulers are rightly expected, by their position, to hate evil; for their power is sustained by righteousness.
13. A specification of the general sentiment of Pr 16:12.
14. This wrath, so terrible and certain, like messengers of death (1Ki 2:25), can be appeased by the wise.
15. light of … countenance—favor (Ps 4:6).
life—preserves it, or gives blessings which make it valuable.
the latter rain—fell just before harvest and matured the crop; hence specially valuable (De 11:14).
16. (Compare Pr 3:16; 4:5).
17. The highway—A common, plain road represents the habitual course of the righteous in departing from evil.
keepeth—observes.
18, 19. (Compare Pr 15:33). Haughtiness and pride imply self-confidence which produces carelessness, and hence
a fall—literally, "sliding."
19. divide the spoil—that is, conquer. Avoid the society of the proud (Jas 4:6).
20. handleth a matter—wisely considers "the word," that is, of God (compare Pr 13:13).
trusteth—(Compare Ps 2:12; 118:8, 9).
21. wise in heart—who rightly consider duty.
sweetness of the lips—eloquent discourse, persuades and instructs others.
22. Understanding—or, "discretion," is a constant source of blessing (Pr 13:14), benefiting others; but fools' best efforts are folly.
23. The heart is the source of wisdom flowing from the mouth.
24. (Compare Pr 15:26). Gentle, kind words, by soothing the mind, give the body health.
25. (Compare Pr 14:2).
26. Diligence is a duty due to one's self, for his wants require labor.
27. ungodly man—(Compare Pr 6:12).
diggeth up evil—labors for it.
in his lips … fire—His words are calumniating (Jas 3:6).
28. (Compare Pr 6:14; 10:31).
whisperer—prater, talebearer (Pr 18:8; 26:20).
29. violent man—or, "man of mischief" (Pr 3:31).
enticeth—(Pr 1:10).
30. He shutteth his eyes—denoting deep thought (Ps 64:6).
moving his lips—or, "biting his lips"—a determined purpose (Pr 6:13).
31. (Compare Pr 20:29).
if—or, which may be supplied properly, or without it the sense is as in Pr 3:16; 4:10, that piety is blessed with long life.
32. (Compare Pr 14:29).
taketh a city—that is, by fighting.
33. Seemingly the most fortuitous events are ordered by God.