Proverbs 21:16-26

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense ¹will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 ²The wicked is a ³ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.

19 It is ⁴better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20 ⁵Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man ⁶devours it.

21 Whoever ⁷pursues righteousness and kindness will find ⁸life, righteousness, and honor.

22 ⁹A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 ¹⁰Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue ¹¹keeps himself out of ¹²trouble.

24 ¹³"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of ¹⁴the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous ¹⁵gives and does not hold back.

Proverbs 21:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.

Cross References

• 1. [Psalms 49:14]
• 2. [Proverbs 11:8]
• 3. Isaiah 43:3
• 4. [ver. 9]
• 5. [Psalms 112:3]
• 6. [Job 20:15, 18]
• 7. Proverbs 15:9; Matthew 5:6; [Proverbs 3:3]
• 8. Proverbs 3:16; 1 Kings 3:11; Matthew 6:33; See Proverbs 4:22
• 9. [Proverbs 24:5; Ecclesiastes 7:19]; See 2 Samuel 5:6-9; Ecclesiastes 9:14-18
• 10. See Proverbs 13:3
• 11. Proverbs 22:5
• 12. Proverbs 12:13
• 13. Proverbs 1:22; See Psalms 1:1
• 14. [Proverbs 13:4]
• 15. See Psalms 37:26