Proverbs Chapter 16 [KJV]

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1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. The spirits – Ruach, mind, thoughts, motives. E318

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The LORD 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 LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proud in heart – Pride is an inordinate and excessive amount of self-esteem and self-conceit. R5704:1, R5001:1

Those who feel haughty toward others and are not sympathetic; who despise others. R5000:6

Pride is very deceitful and frequently cloaks itself with humility. R5000:2

No kind of pride would be more detestable in God's sight than pride of the truth. It is not our Plan. R5001:1

Worldly pride challenges faith in God and obedience to him. R4898:5

Certain conduct which sometimes seems to be pride is not pride; as those, lacking self-esteem, who have much approbativeness. R5000:3

Sometimes manifest by elders in attempts to override the liberties of the congregation and hold power in their own hands. R5001:4

Applies also to the angels. R5000:6

An abomination – Not a creature in the universe has anything to be proud of, has nothing of his own creation, has only been a recipient of favor, blessing. R4898:2, R5704:1


6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Enemies to be at peace – At the proper time, in the future. Now, whoever will live godly will suffer persecution. Q528:3

8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD 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 LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work. A just weight – We should apprehend the principle of divine justice, and deal justly and keep judgment. R3635:5

He who fails to appreciate justice must proportionately fail to appreciate mercy; for mercy is merely the difference between love and justice. R3635:5


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.
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. Pride – Of wealth; sectarian pride; family pride; personal pride. R2459:6

Pride has been a general guide for the world which has accomplished much harm. R5723:4

Alas for the power of pride; the proud cannot see their difficulties. R5068:3

Humility is important because the other graces of the holy Spirit cannot be cultivated without it. R4787:1

If you find a humble one with ability, encourage him in its exercise; but if he be not humble-minded, encourage him not, even though he have the ability, for the higher you push him the greater will be his fall. R1629:3

Illustrated by King Uzziah. He forgot that he was merely the Lord's representative and that his first duty was to obey the divine commands. (2 Chron. 26:8-21) R4786:2

Before destruction – Contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:2

The greater the blessing, the more serious would be the loss by destruction. R3385:6

An haughty spirit – Society's real danger is not from anarchists, but from friends of law and order who, in putting down enemies of the law, will tend toward haughty austerity. R991:3

Ruach, mind, will, disposition. E318

A domineering, self-satisfied disposition tends to undermine the character. R3385:6

Before a fall – "Thou wilt save the humble people, but wilt bring down high looks." (Psa. 18:27) R3337:2

We have a standing never previously granted to any, and the higher the standing the more serious the fall. R3385:6, R1629:3

The time of trouble toward which Christendom is hastening. R2459:6


19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. An humble spirit – Ruach, mind, disposition. E318

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, 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. Understanding – Not merely of the head, but of the heart especially. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." (Rom. 10:10) "Out of the heart are the issues of life." (Prov. 4:23) R2038:2

23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Teacheth his mouth – To speak "words of truth and soberness." (Acts 26:25) R2038:2

24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Pleasant words – Of wisdom, of counsel, of loving-kindness. R2038:3

Health to the bones – In that they refresh and comfort and stimulate courage, and thus fortify the soul and strengthen it to noble deeds. R2038:3


25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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. Diggeth up evil – Apparently finding satisfaction in so doing. R2038:4

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A froward man – A bad man whose acts and words tend to produce envy, bitterness, misunderstandings and strife. Q46:T

Whisperer – A busybody or slanderer. Q46:T


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. The hoary head – Blessed is the man who sets his house in order and who maintains that order to the end of his days. R3630:1

Crown of glory – When the hallowed influences of ripened Christian graces are manifest to every beholder. R2038:5, R3630:4


32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Ruleth his spirit – His own mind or will. R2892:4, R3985:6, R4904:6, R5975:5

Bringing it into full subordination. E112

By changing the allegiance of his will from self to God and overcoming the foes that are entrenched in his mind as a result of the fall. R3629:5,3, R1860:1, R4904:6, R5056:3, R5488:4

We must be taught to rule ourselves, that we may know how to rule others. R12:6*

The little and more numerous battles, keeping the mind cleansed from the secret faults, are principally the ones in which we gain the victories. R4904:6

The greatest power in the universe is the power of the will. OV195:4

God wants all Christians to practice self-denial in respect to sins and everything which would hinder his cause in any degree. F552

Our dealings with ourselves are our chief concern, our chief battle. R3985:6

He that continues to rule his own spirit has not only routed the enemy, sin; but continues to keep him at bay. R3629:3

To rule one's own spirit cannot be done singlehandedly. The wise general will invoke a stronger power, the almighty arm of God. R3629:5

Illustrated by John the Baptist, all of whose aspirations and human ambitions were made subservient to his one mission of introducing Jesus. R1916:1

We have three departments of government: the legislative, which should always be the conscience; the judicial, the judgment; and the executive, the will. R3629:5, R5488:6

Than he – Destructiveness and combativeness, which serve a Christian well if directed against his own blemishes, are out of place when one becomes contentious with the brethren. R5056:3, R4803:5, R3858:3

In overcoming pride and selfishness (by confession of his sin with Bathsheba) David proved himself a greater hero than in his youthful conflict with Goliath. R2017:4

That taketh a city – To take a city one must have the skill and equipment necessary to conquer a nation. R3629:2


33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. The lot is cast – Those things which men may regard as mere chance. R2038:5

Is of the LORD – Will be overruled to the accomplishment of his purposes. R2038:5


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