Proverbs 16:24-33

24 ¹Gracious words are like ²a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and ³health to the body.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.^[a]

26 A worker's appetite works for him; his ⁴mouth urges him on.

27 ⁵A worthless man plots evil, and his speech^[b] is like ⁶a scorching fire.

28 ⁷A dishonest man spreads strife, and ⁸a whisperer ⁹separates close friends.

29 A man of violence ¹⁰entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eyes plans^[c]11dishonest things; he who ¹²purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 ¹³Gray hair is ¹⁴a crown of glory; it ¹⁵is gained in a righteous life.

32 ¹⁶Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 ¹⁷The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is ¹⁸from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:24-33 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. Proverbs 15:26
• 2. Psalms 19:10
• 3. See Proverbs 4:22
• 4. [Ecclesiastes 6:7]
• 5. [Proverbs 6:12, 14, 19]
• 6. James 3:6
• 7. See Proverbs 15:18
• 8. [Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 26:20, 22]
• 9. Proverbs 17:9
• 10. Proverbs 1:10
• 11. See Proverbs 2:12
• 12. [Proverbs 6:13]
• 13. Proverbs 20:29
• 14. Proverbs 17:6
• 15. See Proverbs 3:1, 2
• 16. Proverbs 14:29; [Proverbs 19:11; Proverbs 25:28]
• 17. [Acts 1:26]
• 18. Proverbs 29:26

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew ways of death
• [b]. Hebrew what is on his lips
• [c]. Hebrew to plan