Proverbs 16:8-28

8 Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.^[a]

9 A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.^[b]

10 God's verdict is on the lips of a king;^{[c] [d]} his mouth should not err in judgment.^[e]

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag^[f] are His concern.^[g]

12 Wicked behavior^[h] is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.^[i]

13 Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

14 A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it.^[j]

15 When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

16 Acquire wisdom- how much better it is than gold! And acquire understanding- it is preferable to silver.^[k]

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.^[l]

18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.^[m]

19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble^[n] than to divide plunder with the proud.^[o]

20 The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.^[p]

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech^[q] increases learning.^[r]

22 Insight is a fountain of life^[s] for its possessor, but folly is the instruction of fools.

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech.^{[t] [u]}

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste^[v] and health to the body.^[w][x]

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way of death.^[y]

26 A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger^[z] urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.^[aa]

28 A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates friends.^[ab]

Proverbs 16:8-28 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 15:16-17; 16:19; 28:6; Ps 37:16
• [b]. Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24
• [c]. Or A divination is on the lips of a king
• [d]. 2 Sm 14:17,20
• [e]. Pr 18:14-15; 2 Sm 23:2-3
• [f]. Merchants kept the stones for their balance scales in a bag.
• [g]. Pr 11:1; Lv 19:36; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11
• [h]. Whether the wicked behavior is on the part of the king or someone else is ambiguous in Hb.
• [i]. Pr 25:5; Ps 101
• [j]. Ec 10:4
• [k]. Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 22:1
• [l]. Pr 2:11-13; 15:19
• [m]. Pr 16:5; 18:12; 29:23; Dn 4:37
• [n]. Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
• [o]. Pr 15:16-17; 16:8; Ps 37:16
• [p]. Ps 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; 146:5
• [q]. Lit and sweetness of lips
• [r]. Pr 1:5; 9:9; 16:23
• [s]. Pr 10:11; 13:14; 14:27
• [t]. Lit learning upon his lips
• [u]. Pr 1:5; 9:9; 16:21
• [v]. Lit throat
• [w]. Lit bones
• [x]. Pr 15:26,30; 25:13
• [y]. Pr 14:12; 24:20
• [z]. Lit mouth
• [aa]. Pr 6:12; 19:28; 26:23
• [ab]. Pr 6:14,19; 17:9; 26:20-21; 28:25