Proverbs 16 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 16

16:1   The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2   All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the LORD weighs the spirit.¹
3   Commit your work to the LORD,
    and your plans will be established.
4   The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5   Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6   By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
7   When a man’s ways please the LORD,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8   Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
9   The heart of man plans his way,
    but the LORD establishes his steps.
10   An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11   A just balance and scales are the LORD’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
12   It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.
13   Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14   A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will appease it.
15   In the light of a king’s face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16   How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17   The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18   Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19   It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20   Whoever gives thought to the word² will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21   The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22   Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
23   The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24   Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25   There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.³
26   A worker’s appetite works for him;
    his mouth urges him on.
27   A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech⁴ is like a scorching fire.
28   A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
29   A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30   Whoever winks his eyes plans⁵ dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31   Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained in a righteous life.
32   Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33   The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 16:2 Or spirits
[2] 16:20 Or to a matter
[3] 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
[4] 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
[5] 16:30 Hebrew to plan

Commentary

v1-3: The Lord in final control; the wise man will submit his plans to Him.

We do not restrict 'plans' to 'spiritual' things. Scripture makes no distinction bwteen spiritual and material.

Our plans may include plans to develop a business. In v7, we seek to please the Lord in the way we work. We deal honestly (v11) and speak the truth (v13). As a result, even our 'enemies' find peace with us.

v4-5: Judgment upon the wicked is inevitable.

v6: Pointing us to Christ, the bringer of mercy and truth, through whom atonement is provided. Our response, in the fear of the Lord, is to depart from all evil, 2 Tim 2.19.

v7: Illustrated in Daniel, where his principled stand was honoured by God.

v8: Righteousness is more important than riches, see also 15.16-17; 16.16, 19.

v9: A man's heart plans his way (v1), and teaches his mouth (v23), but there must be submission to God.

v10-15: Leadership brings authority and responsibility; but these can be misused, since the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. It is especially important that leaders reject wrongdoing and wickedness. They must speak the truth, and uphold justice. Others must show proper respect, and seek His favour.

v16: Wisdom and understanding esteemed above the wealth of this world.

v17: Watch our ways, 4.14-15, thereby avoiding evil.

v18: The danger of pride.

v19: Humility is better than pride, even when it costs us materially.

v20: Listen to God's instruction, 15.32. We find happiness and blessing in trusting the Lord.

v21: The wise in heart reveal that wisdom through their words. The wise in heart therefore have a testimony, and they are recognised as such.

v22: Understanding preferred above folly.

v23: Truth in the heart becomes spoken truth.

v24: Pleasant words bring blessing to others.

v25: See 14.12; the carnal man only walks in his own way, ignorant of his final end.

v26: Hunger motivates the worker. He cannot work hard for no reason.

v27-30: The power and influence of the ungodly man;

he consciously seeks evil;
his words are destructive;
he leads others astray;
he plans evil, and brings it to pass;
he is full of scheming and deceit.

v31: The honourable old man, the mature in Christ, attained by living a consistently righteous life.

v32: Self-control; be slow to anger, ruling your spirit.

v33: The Jewish way of decision making, casting the lot, trusting its outcome from the Lord.