Proverbs 16:2-25

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

7 When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

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.

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Proverbs 16:2-25 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 39

1. S Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 30:12
2. S 1 Samuel 2:3
3. S 2 Chronicles 6:30; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 21:2; Luke 16:15
4. S 2 Chronicles 20:20; S Psalms 20:4; Psalms 37:5-6; S Proverbs 3:5-6
5. Exodus 9:16; Isaiah 43:7
6. S 2 Chronicles 34:24; S Psalms 18:18; Romans 9:22
7. S Psalms 40:4; S Proverbs 6:16
8. Proverbs 11:20-21
9. S Genesis 20:11; S Exodus 1:17
10. S Exodus 20:20; Proverbs 14:16
11. S Genesis 39:21
12. Psalms 105:15; Jeremiah 39:12; Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 42:12; Daniel 1:9
13. S Psalms 37:16
14. S Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 17:1; Ecclesiastes 4:6
15. S ver 1; S Job 33:29; S Psalms 90:12; Jeremiah 10:23
16. Proverbs 17:7
17. S Proverbs 11:1; Ezekiel 45:10
18. Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 29:14; Proverbs 31:5
19. Proverbs 22:11; Proverbs 14:35
20. S Genesis 40:2; S Job 29:24; Proverbs 20:2; Proverbs 19:12
21. Proverbs 25:15; Proverbs 29:8; Ecclesiastes 10:4
22. S Genesis 40:2; S Job 29:24
23. Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 25:2-7
24. Psalms 49:20
25. S Job 28:15; S Proverbs 3:13-14; Proverbs 8:10,19
26. Proverbs 19:16
27. S 1 Samuel 17:42
28. Psalms 18:27; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 48:29
29. S Esther 5:12; Proverbs 11:2; S Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 29:23
30. Proverbs 13:13
31. S Psalms 32:10; Psalms 40:4; Psalms 2:12; Psalms 34:8; Proverbs 19:8; Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 17:7
32. ver 23
33. S Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 13:14
34. Job 15:5
35. ver 21
36. S 1 Samuel 14:27
37. Proverbs 24:13-14
38. S Proverbs 12:15
39. Esther 3:6; Proverbs 14:12

Footnotes 3

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