THE PROVERBS
CHAPTER 16
It is better to get wisdom than gold—Pride goeth before destruction—The hoary head of the righteous is a crown of glory.
1 T
HE preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue,
is from the L
ORD.
2 All the ways of a man
are clean in his own eyes; but the L
ORD weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the L
ORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The L
ORD hath made all
things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one
that is proud in heart
is an abomination to the L
ORD:
though hand
join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the L
ORD men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the L
ORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better
is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the L
ORD directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence
is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance
are the L
ORD’s: all the weights of the bag
are his work.
12
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips
are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14 The wrath of a king
is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance
is life; and his favour
is as a cloud of the
latter rain.
[ Latter rain is a prophecy of the future house of Israel. In which it would be so glorious that they would no longer talk about the passover of Moses any more. The restoration of the house of Israel from the four corners of the earth. In Hebrew, latter rain is “malqosh.” The latter rain matures the crops and brings the harvest. It ushers in the time to “gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” ]
16 How much better
is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright
is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better
it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the L
ORD, happy
is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding
is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools
is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words
are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 T
here is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
[ If you justify something just because you've always done it... and you say that it "seems fine", its leading you to spiritual death. Which is ignoring that Jesus is the ONLY way. ]
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips
there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way
that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head
is a crown of glory,
if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32
He that is slow to anger
is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof
is of the L
ORD.