Proverbs 16

A person makes the plans in his heart, but the answer the tongue gives comes from the LORD.

1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Note"Heart" in Hebrew usage means the mind and will (the place where a person thinks, decides and plans), rather than the feelings. It carries that sense throughout this chapter (verses 1, 5, 9, 21, 23). The second half is compressed in the Hebrew and can be taken more than one way: either that the words a person finally manages to speak come from the LORD, or that the reply he gets back does.

2People think everything they do is clean and pure, but the LORD weighs what is really driving them.

2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

NoteThe picture is a merchant's balance scales, the same image used in verse 11: a person's inner motives are placed in the pan and weighed against a standard he did not set. "Spirits" here means what is actually driving someone, as opposed to how his conduct looks from outside.

3Hand over to the LORD whatever you are doing, and your plans will stand firm.

3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

NoteThe Hebrew verb behind "commit" literally means "roll", roll your work onto the LORD, as you would roll a weight off your own back onto something able to carry it.

4The LORD has made everything for his own purpose, even wicked people for the day of disaster.

4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

NoteThe Hebrew phrase translated "for himself" or "for his own purpose" is disputed: it can mean "for its own purpose or answer" (that is, everything is made with its matching counterpart) or "for his own ends." "The day of evil" means a day of disaster or reckoning, not a day on which someone does wrong.

5The LORD hates everyone with a proud heart. Be sure of this: such a person will not escape punishment.

5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Note"Abomination" translates a Hebrew word meaning something detestable, the sort of thing that disgusts and is refused outright; it is a standing formula in Proverbs for what the LORD rejects (see also verse 12). The King James "though hand join in hand" renders an idiom taken from clasping hands to seal a bargain, so it means something like "you can shake on it", depend on it, this will happen.

6Loyal love and faithfulness cover over sin, and the fear of the LORD makes people turn away from evil.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Note"Mercy and truth" translates two Hebrew words, *hesed* and *emet*, that belong together: steady loyalty to a commitment and dependability in keeping it. "Purged" translates the word used of atonement, sin covered over or wiped away. "The fear of the LORD" is a set phrase in Hebrew for reverent awe and taking God seriously, not fright.

7When the way a person lives pleases the LORD, the LORD makes even that person's enemies live at peace with him.

7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8It is better to have a little and live right than to have a large income gained unfairly.

8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

9A person's heart plans out his road, but the LORD is the one who decides his steps.

9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

10The words on a king's lips carry a decision from God; his mouth does not betray justice when he judges.

10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

NoteThe word rendered "divine sentence" is normally the term for divination, the oracle a seer produces. Applying it to a king's verdict is unusual, and the second line is grammatically ambiguous: it can be read as a statement (his mouth does not betray justice) or as an obligation (his mouth must not betray justice).

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

11A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.

NoteBefore coined money, goods were paid for by weighing out silver against stone weights that a merchant carried in a pouch. A dishonest trader kept two sets, a heavy one for buying and a light one for selling. Saying the honest weight "belongs to the LORD" means the standard itself is not the merchant's to set.

12Kings hate to see wicked acts done, because a throne is made secure by doing what is right.

12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Note"Abomination" is the same strong word used of the LORD in verse 5, something detestable and to be refused.

13Honest lips are a delight to kings, and they love the person who speaks the truth.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14A king's anger is like a messenger sent to kill, but a wise person will calm it.

14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

NoteKings could have a sentence carried out on the spot by an officer of the court, so "messengers of death" is not a metaphor for gloom but for an execution party actually being sent.

15When a king's face brightens toward you, there is life; his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.

15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

NoteA bright or lifted-up face is the standard Hebrew idiom for favor and goodwill, as a darkened face is for anger. The "latter rain" is the spring rain of March and April, which came late in the growing season and filled out the grain before harvest; without it the crop failed.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Getting understanding is worth more than choosing silver.

16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17The main road of honest people leads away from evil; whoever watches his path protects his own life.

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

NoteA "highway" is a built-up, cleared road, as opposed to a rough track, in Proverbs the picture of a way of life that is level and passable. "Soul" here translates a word meaning life itself, not an immaterial part of a person.

18Pride comes before a person is destroyed, and a proud spirit comes before a fall.

18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

NoteThe familiar English saying "pride goes before a fall" is a compression of these two lines; the Hebrew states it twice in parallel, with "destruction" in the first half and "a fall", a stumble or collapse, in the second.

19It is better to be humble in spirit among people of low standing than to split the stolen goods with the proud.

19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

NoteDividing the spoil means sharing out plunder after a raid or a victory, the moment when the winners took their cut. "The lowly" are the poor and downtrodden, people of no social weight.

20Whoever pays careful attention to a matter will find what is good, and whoever trusts in the LORD is happy.

20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

NoteThe Hebrew word here can mean either "a matter, an affair" or "a word, a teaching," so the line can be read as paying close attention to the business in hand or as heeding instruction. Both readings are current.

21People who are wise in heart are called sensible, and pleasant speech helps others learn more.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22Understanding is a spring of life to the person who has it, but the teaching fools give is only foolishness.

22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

NoteThe second line is ambiguous in Hebrew. "The instruction of fools" can mean the teaching fools hand out, which is worthless, or the correction fools receive, which is their own folly and teaches them nothing.

23The heart of a wise person guides what he says, and makes his words more convincing.

23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healing to the body.

24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

NoteIn Hebrew idiom the bones stand for the body's strength and physical wellbeing generally, so "health to the bones" means healing to the whole person.

25There is a road that looks right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.

25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

26A worker's appetite works for him; his own hunger keeps pushing him on.

26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

NoteThe word translated "mouth" or "appetite" is the same word rendered "soul" elsewhere; here it means hunger, the physical need that gets a person out to work in the morning.

27A worthless man digs up trouble, and his talk is like a scorching fire.

27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

NoteThe King James "ungodly man" translates a Hebrew phrase meaning literally "man of Belial", a worthless, good-for-nothing person. "Diggeth up evil" uses the image of digging: either excavating trouble that was buried, or digging a pit for someone to fall into.

28A crooked man stirs up fighting, and a person who spreads gossip splits up close friends.

28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Note"Froward" is old English for crooked, twisted out of true. A "whisperer" is a person who carries private talk from one person to another, and "chief friends" means the closest of friends.

29A violent man talks his neighbor into joining him and leads him down a road that is not good.

29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30He narrows his eyes as he plans crooked things; he presses his lips together and carries the evil out.

30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

NoteNarrowing or winking the eyes and pressing the lips tight were recognized gestures of someone scheming, the visible signs of a plot being hatched, readable to bystanders the way a smirk is.

31Gray hair is a crown of honor when it is found on the road of right living.

31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Note"Hoary" means white or gray with age. Long life was regarded as a mark of honor, and the elderly held authority in the community; the second line qualifies rather than assumes it.

32Someone slow to get angry is better than a strong warrior, and someone who controls his temper is better than someone who captures a city.

32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

NoteCapturing a walled city was the highest achievement in ancient warfare, requiring a siege and enormous cost, so it stands here for the most impressive thing a strong man could do.

33The lot is thrown into the fold of a robe to settle a question, but every decision it gives comes from the LORD.

33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

NoteCasting lots was a recognized method for settling questions that could not be decided otherwise, dividing land, assigning duties, picking a man out of a group. Marked stones or pieces of wood were shaken out into the fold of a robe held at the waist. The point of the proverb turns on the fact that the throw itself is random.