Proverbs 16:16-26

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

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

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[a]and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.^[b]

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.^[c]

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

26 The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.

Proverbs 16:16-26 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. Psalms 49:20
• 2. S Job 28:15; S Proverbs 3:13-14; Proverbs 8:10,19
• 3. Proverbs 19:16
• 4. S 1 Samuel 17:42
• 5. Psalms 18:27; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 48:29
• 6. S Esther 5:12; Proverbs 11:2; S Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 29:23
• 7. Proverbs 13:13
• 8. S Psalms 32:10; Psalms 40:4; Psalms 2:12; Psalms 34:8; Proverbs 19:8; Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 17:7
• 9. ver 23
• 10. S Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 13:14
• 11. Job 15:5
• 12. ver 21
• 13. S 1 Samuel 14:27
• 14. Proverbs 24:13-14
• 15. S Proverbs 12:15
• 16. Esther 3:6; Proverbs 14:12

Footnotes

• [a] Or "whoever speaks prudently finds what is good"
• [b] Or "words make a person persuasive"
• [c] Or "prudent" / "and make their lips persuasive"