Proverbs 16:9-19

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

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

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

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

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.^[i]

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.^[j]

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

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

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

Proverbs 16:9-19 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24
• [b]. Or A divination is on the lips of a king
• [c]. 2 Sm 14:17,20
• [d]. Pr 18:14-15; 2 Sm 23:2-3
• [e]. Merchants kept the stones for their balance scales in a bag.
• [f]. Pr 11:1; Lv 19:36; Ezk 45:10; Mc 6:11
• [g]. Whether the wicked behavior is on the part of the king or someone else is ambiguous in Hb.
• [h]. Pr 25:5; Ps 101
• [i]. Ec 10:4
• [j]. Pr 3:14; 8:10,19; 22:1
• [k]. Pr 2:11-13; 15:19
• [l]. Pr 16:5; 18:12; 29:23; Dn 4:37
• [m]. Alt Hb tradition reads afflicted
• [n]. Pr 15:16-17; 16:8; Ps 37:16