Proverbs 16:1-19

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but ¹the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 ²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD ³ weighs the spirit.

3 ⁴Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

4 ⁵The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even ⁶the wicked for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ⁷an abomination to the LORD; ⁸be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 By ⁹steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by ¹⁰the fear of the LORD one ¹¹turns away from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the LORD, ¹²he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 ¹³Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

9 ¹⁴The heart of man plans his way, but ¹⁵the LORD establishes his steps.

10 ¹⁶An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11 ¹⁷A 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 ¹⁸the throne is established by righteousness.

13 ¹⁹Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 ²⁰A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will ²¹appease it.

15 ²²In the light of a king's face there is life, and his ²³favor is like ²⁴the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16 ²⁵How much better to get wisdom than ²⁶gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ²⁷silver.

17 The highway of the upright ²⁸turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 ²⁹Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 ³⁰It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to ³¹divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 16:1-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 6

This chapter gives an account of the building of the temple, for which preparations were before made and begins with the time of its building, 1Ki 6:1; gives the dimensions of it and the porch before it, 1Ki 6:2,3; observes the windows in it and chambers about it, 1Ki 6:4-10; and while it was building, Solomon had a word from the Lord relative to it, 1Ki 6:11-14; and then the account goes on concerning the walls of the house, and the flooring of it, 1Ki 6:15-18; and the oracle in it, and the cherubim in that, 1Ki 6:19-30; and the doors into it, and the carved work of them, 1Ki 6:31-36; and the chapter is concluded with observing the time when it was begun and finished 1Ki 6:37,38.

Cross References

• 1. [Matthew 10:19, 20]
• 2. Proverbs 21:2; [Proverbs 12:15]; See Proverbs 30:12
• 3. Proverbs 24:12; See 1 Samuel 16:7
• 4. See Psalms 37:5
• 5. Romans 11:36
• 6. Job 21:30; [Exodus 9:16]
• 7. Proverbs 6:16, 17; Proverbs 8:13; Luke 16:15
• 8. Proverbs 11:21; [Proverbs 28:20]
• 9. Daniel 4:27
• 10. Proverbs 14:16
• 11. ver. 17; Job 28:28
• 12. [Genesis 26:28; 2 Chronicles 17:10]
• 13. See Proverbs 15:16
• 14. [ver. 1; Proverbs 19:21]
• 15. Proverbs 20:24; [Psalms 37:23; Jeremiah 10:23]
• 16. [1 Kings 3:28]
• 17. See Proverbs 11:1
• 18. Proverbs 25:5; [Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 29:14; Isaiah 16:5]
• 19. [Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 22:11]
• 20. Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 20:2
• 21. [Proverbs 25:15]
• 22. [Job 29:24]
• 23. [See ver. 13 above]
• 24. [Psalms 72:6]; See Job 29:23
• 25. Proverbs 8:10, 11, 19
• 26. See Proverbs 3:14
• 27. Proverbs 10:20
• 28. ver. 6
• 29. See Proverbs 11:2
• 30. Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 57:15
• 31. See Exodus 15:9