Proverbs 16:12-22

TEXT Proverbs 16:12-22

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 favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16.

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!

Yea, to get understanding is 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 a haughty spirit before a fall.

19.

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,

Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20.

He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good;

And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, 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 correction of fools is their folly.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 16:12-22

1.

Why is it such an abomination for kings to commit wickedness (Proverbs 16:12)?

2.

Why do kings love those who speak truth (Proverbs 16:13)?

3.

Show from Proverbs 16:14 that the will and the rights of a king were supreme.

4.

What is meant by the light of the king's countenance (Proverbs 16:15)?

5.

Who asked God for wisdom rather than riches (Proverbs 16:16)?

6.

What verse in chapter 15 speaks of the way of the upright being a highway?

7.

Give a Bible example of one's pride leading to his destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

8.

Why is it better to be lowly and poor than rich and proud (Proverbs 16:19)?

9.

What word is meant in Proverbs 16:20?

10.

How does the sweetness of the lips increase learning (Proverbs 16:21)?

11.

What is meant by understanding being a wellspring of life (Proverbs 16:22)?

PARAPHRASE OF 16:12-22

12.

It is a horrible thing for a king to do evil. His right to rule depends upon his fairness.

13.

The king rejoices when his people are truthful and fair.

14.

The anger of the king is a messenger of death and a wise man will appease it.

15.

Many favors are showered on those who please the king.

16.

How much better is wisdom than gold, and understanding than silver!

17.

The path of the godly leads away from evil; he who follows that path is safe.

18.

Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a

fall.

19.

Better poor and humble than proud and rich.

20.

God blesses those who obey Him; happy the man who trusts in the Lord.

21.

The wise man is known by his common sense, and a pleasant teacher is the best.

22.

Wisdom is a fountain of life on those possessing it, but a fool's burden is his folly.

COMMENTS ON 16:12-22

Proverbs 16:12. Another saying concerning kings. Pulpit Commentary: When a ruler acts justly and wisely, punishes the unruly, rewards the virtuous, acts as God's vicegerent, and himself sets the example of the character which becomes so high a position, he wins the affection of his people...Law-makers should not be law-breakers. A ruler should desire the success of his nation; then he should lead it into righteousness: Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). A king's rule upon his throne and the power passing to his sons is brought about by a righteous rule upon his and their parts. (Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 29:14).

Proverbs 16:13. A ruler is concerned about how things are going in his kingdom. For much of this knowledge he is dependent upon the information of others. Inaccurate reporting on their part can be his undoing. So he loves the person who speaks right. In Bible times a king not only ruled but served much like a high judge today (1 Kings 3:16-28). In passing judgment he likewise depended upon the information that he heard from the witnesses. He had a special appreciation for those who spoke the truth. Every ruler knows, though, that he must sort out the information he hears into true, false, partly true, partly false, etc. Is it any wonder that when Jesus said to the ruler Pilate, To this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (John 18:37), that Pilate remarked, What is truth? (John 18:38).

Proverbs 16:14. The king's wrath is compared to the rage of a roaring lion in Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 20:2. Various men in Bible times found this to be true: Agag (1 Samuel 15:33); the Amalekite who claimed he had mercifully killed Saul (2 Samuel 1:14-15); Shemei (1 Kings 2:39-46); and many others. None but a fool will excite the monarch's resentment (Pulpit Commentary). Proverbs 15:1 says wrath can be pacified with a soft answer.

Proverbs 16:15. Proverbs 19:12 likens the king's favor to dew upon the grass. The former rain in Palestine falls about the end of October or the beginning of November, when the seed is sown; the latter rain comes in March or April, and is absolutely necessary for the due swelling and ripening of the grain. It is accompanied, of course, with cloud, which tempers the heat, while it brings fertility and vigour (Pulpit Commentary). Queen Esther obtained favor in the sight of King Ahasuerus (Esther 4:11; Esther 5:1-2). Likewise did Jehoiachin obtain the favor of Evil-merodach, king of Babylon (Jeremiah 52:31-34).

Proverbs 16:16. Proverbs 8:11; Proverbs 8:19 contains statements to the same effect. Wisdom builds the man, gold his holdings. One who gets wisdom may get riches as a result. For those who take a deeper look into this passage, there seems to be an additional comparison; namely, that wisdom is actually better than understanding as gold is greater than silver: An intimation of the superiority of wisdom over intelligence, the former being the guide of life and including the practice of religion, the latter denoting discernment, the faculty of distinguishing between one thing and another (Pulpit Commentary).

Proverbs 16:17. Proverbs 15:19 shows that the path of the upright is a highway and not a place of thorns as is the way of the sluggard. A highway leads from one place to another place. The highway of the upright leaves or goes away from evil, making it a the way of holiness (Isaiah 35:8). And one who stays in this way preserves his soul.

Proverbs 16:18. Pride is when a person is puffed up (1 Corinthians 13:4), when one's spirit is unduly lifted up within him (Habakkuk 2:4), when one is conceited and thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think (Romans 12:16). Haman (Esther 5:11-12; Esther 7:3-10) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30-33) are good examples of Proverbs 17:19 (He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction) and Proverbs 18:12 (Before destruction the heart of man is haughty), causing the warning of 1 Corinthians 10:12 to be timely (Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall). Herodotus: Artabanus warned the arrogant Xerxes, -Seest thou how God strikes with the thunder animals which overtop others, and suffers them not to vaunt themselves, but the small irritate him not? And seest thou how he hurls his bolts always against the mightiest buildings and the loftiest trees? For God is wont to cut short whatever is too highly exalted-'.

Proverbs 16:19. Better in two senses: One is more righteous to be lowly than proud, and when destruction hits the proud and reduces him to nothing, it is surely ultimately better.

Proverbs 16:20. The word is the Word of God as the last statement of the verse indicates. To give heed is to pay attention to the Word, to respond properly to the Word. This is to believe its facts, obey its commands, accept its promises, and heed its warnings. Heeding what God says reflects a trust in God, which is the happy, blessed way to live (Psalms 34:8; Psalms 125:1; Jeremiah 17:7). Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Proverbs 16:21. One usually deserves the reputation he acquires; thus, the wise are called prudent. People look to those for leadership and advice whose wisdom they respect and admire. People listen to instruction at the mouth of one who speaks well and winningly (Pulpit Commentary). The sweetness of pleasantness of a person's speech enables him to impart his knowledge to others who willingly listen.

Proverbs 16:22. The person whose understanding in Proverbs 16:21 blesses others also has it for his own blessing (this verse). One's understanding is like an ever-flowing spring (well) from which he can ever drink. But over and over again is the foolish person corrected by his own folly. He is going to show them only to be shown up. Oh, the usual conceit of an ignorant person!

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 16:12-22

1.

How many of these verses deal with kings?

2.

What establishes a king and his family upon a throne (Proverbs 16:12)?

3.

Why and when would kings appreciate truthful words (Proverbs 16:13)?

4.

What is a king's wrath compared to in other proverbs (Proverbs 16:14)?

5.

What does Proverbs 15:1 say can pacify wrath?

6.

What if one did not have the favor of the king (Proverbs 16:15)?

7.

Proverbs 16:16 says ............... is better than gold and ............... than silver.

8.

What is the sense of highway in Proverbs 16:17?

9.

Name two Bible characters whose pride preceded their fall (Proverbs 16:18).

10.

In what two ways is it better to be lowly and poor than rich and proud (Proverbs 16:19)?

11.

How do we know that word in Proverbs 16:20 is the Word of God?

12.

What do we do when we give heed to God's Word (Proverbs 16:20)?

13.

How does a wise person help others (Proverbs 16:21)?

14.

How does he help himself (Proverbs 16:22)?

15.

How is a fool's folly his downfall (Proverbs 16:22)?