Proverbs 16:1-33
1 The preparationsa 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 Commitb 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.c
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.
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 weightsd 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.
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 teachethe his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 Hef 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 sowethg 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.
Proverbs 16:1. The preparations of the heart in man. As the field must be plowed, and the soil prepared for the seeds, so the heart of man must be prepared for grace. Afflictions in Egypt disposed the Hebrews to cry, and instruction must prepare the soul of the ignorant for conversion. When the conscience is oppressed with sin, and the body groans with pain, then we pray in the Spirit, and the Lord graciously accords the answer of our tongue. The Versions vary the reading, but the above is the sense. The LXX, “The heart of man deviseth righteous things, that his ways may be directed by God.” Vulgate, Hominum est animam præparare, et Domini gubernare linguam. “It belongs to man to prepare his heart, and to God to direct the tongue.”
Proverbs 16:2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes. Because he contemplates his image in the mirror of his own heart, instead of viewing himself in the light of the Lord. Without the law he is all alive; but when the commandment comes, which is an emanation of the moral glory of God, sin revives, and his hopes are slain.
Proverbs 16:3. Commit thy works unto the Lord. Lay every plan before him, and seek his approbation and blessing; then thy thoughts and purposes shall be established. But if thou shalt find, after all, at the bottom of thy heart an unaccountable misgiving, be cautious of procedure. The events of the future are known only to the Lord.
Proverbs 16:4. The Lord hath made all things for himself. When the disputes about grace ran high in Holland, Grotius gave a comment on this verse. Sensus non est malus, si propter se ipsum intelligas, ut proprietates suas notas faciat, et impium non fieri talem a Deo, (absit!) sed fieri, sive poni, ad mala. The sense is not a bad one, if by all things being made for himself, you understand made as his property; and the wicked, not to have been made such of God, (heaven forbid) but to have become, or been drawn to evil. The Chaldee reads, “The wicked is reserved for the evil day.”
Proverbs 16:6. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged. Then it is not purged by the blood of bulls and goats. God who is rich in mercy gave his Son; and truth, faithful to the promise, accomplished it on Calvary. So grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And by the exercise of mercy and truth men give proof by the fruit, that their sins are really purged; for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needy; him will the Lord deliver in the time of trouble.
Proverbs 16:10. A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. Hebrews קסם kesem, divination, as in the margin. The kings of Israel were anointed, the Lord gave them of his Spirit, and counsellors stood at the foot of the throne; their decisions therefore were superior to the interests of party feeling.
Proverbs 16:15. The latter rain, as described in Deuteronomy 11:14. The royal favour brightens the countenance of the subject, banishes fear from the heart, and prompts him to perform every duty in excellence of temper, and uprightness of heart.
Proverbs 16:25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man. The wicked own that their way is wrong, being convicted by their own conscience. But this pharisaical way of magnifying human rectitude, and consequently partially leaving the atonement, terminates in death. It nourishes human pride, it engenders prejudice and ignorance, and prevents the reception of converting grace and comfort. Consequently it leaves the soul a prey to pride, covetousness, and every sin which has a sort of decency in the eyes of men. Thus the pharisees, who appeared beautiful in the eyes of men, said of Jesus Christ, It is better that one die than all perish. Thus sin when it is conceived worketh death.
Proverbs 16:27. An ungodly man diggeth up evil, as miners dig for ores. His thoughts run on evil, and his tongue dwells on men's faults; but his proofs that other men are wicked do not prove that he himself is good.
Proverbs 16:33. The lot is cast into the lap. When Haman cast the lot for a lucky day to destroy the Jews, it fell in the middle of the twelfth month. Thus the Lord, ever watchful over his church, took time to provide for their safety, and for Haman's destruction. Yet, I know not that we have now any warrant to expect the Lord to give us an answer by lot, however doubtful or important the case. We should have recourse to counsel, prayer, and prudence: and then if men will put a matter to the lot, I will neither praise nor blame their conduct. For myself, I want no way but that of prayer and prudence.