Proverbs 16:21

21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.

Proverbs 16:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent
He that has true wisdom in the inward part; who knows his heart and the haughtiness of it; who has the fear of God in it, which is the beginning of wisdom; who is wise unto salvation, not only knows the scheme of it, but is experimentally acquainted with it; who has not head knowledge and wisdom only, but heart knowledge and wisdom, and behaves wisely in his life and conversation; who is so wise and endued with knowledge, as, out of a good conversation, to show his works with meekness of wisdom; such a man is called, reckoned, accounted, and spoken well of, as a prudent man among all wise and knowing persons; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning;
who, besides a wise heart and a knowing head, have the gift of elocution; can deliver themselves in a flowing easy style; can clothe their thoughts with proper words, and convey their ideas in clear expressions, in a very edifying and instructive manner: these communicate knowledge to others, and increase it in themselves: for, while they are improving others, they improve themselves and learning also, whether it be divine or human; these are such who are "apt to teach", ( 1 Timothy 3:2 ) ; and if they have proper hearers to attend them, they will "increase in learning", as a just man does, ( Proverbs 9:9 ) .

Proverbs 16:21 In-Context

19 It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous.
20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.
21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.
23 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.