Proverbs 16:8-28

8 Better a little with righteousness than great profits without justice.

9 People plan their path, but the LORD secures their steps.

10 A king's speech is like an oracle; in a judgment, one can't go against his words.

11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his doing.

12 Kings detest wicked deeds, for their thrones are founded on righteousness.

13 Kings favor those with righteous lips; they love words of integrity.

14 The king's anger is a messenger of death; the wise will calm him.

15 There's life in the light of the king's face. His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

16 Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold, and acquiring understanding is better than silver.

17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil; those who protect their path guard their lives.

18 Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall.

19 Better to be humble with the needy than to divide plunder with the proud.

20 Those with insight find prosperity; those who trust the LORD are blessed.

21 The skilled mind is called discerning, and pleasant speech enhances teaching.

22 One who has insight is a fountain of life, but the instruction of the foolish is folly.

23 The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful and enhances the teaching of their lips.

24 Pleasant words are flowing honey, sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.

25 There is a path that may seem straight to someone, but in the end it is the path of death.

26 The appetite of workers labors for them, for their hunger presses them on.

27 Worthless people dig up trouble; their lips are like a scorching fire.

28 Destructive people produce conflict; gossips alienate close friends.

Proverbs 16:8-28 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.