The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue,is from the LORD.
16:1 From the Lord - Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance.
All the ways of a manare clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
16:2 Weigheth - Exactly knows as men do the things which they weigh. Spirits - The hearts of men.
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
16:3 Commit - Refer all thy actions and concerns to God, as the end of them, and depend upon God's providence for success. Established - Thy designs shall be brought to an happy issue.
The LORD hath made allthings for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
16:4 Doth work - He orders or disposes. For - For his own glory; for the discovery of his wisdom, power, goodness, truth, justice. The wicked - Wilful and impenitent sinners. Men make themselves wicked, and God therefore makes them miserable.
Every onethat is proud in heartis an abomination to the LORD:though handjoin in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORDmen depart from evil.
16:6 By mercy - By a merciful and just and faithful frame of heart and course of life. Is purged - As they qualify a man to offer up acceptable prayers to God for the pardon of his sins. By fear - By a filial reverence unto God. Depart - They are kept from abusing pardoning mercy, and from returning to folly or wickedness.
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Betteris a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
16:9 Deviseth - Proposes what he will do. Directeth - Over - rules and disposes all his designs and actions.
A divine sentenceis in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
16:10 A divine sentence - Great sagacity and piercing judgment. Of the king - Of wise kings; who only are worthy of that name and office.
A just weight and balanceare the LORD'S: all the weights of the bagare his work.
16:11 The Lord's - Are made by his direction and appointment, so that no man can alter them without violating God's rights and authority.
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lipsare the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
The wrath of a kingis as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
In the light of the king's countenanceis life; and his favouris as a cloud of the latter rain.
16:15 A cloud - As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest.
How much betteris it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
The highway of the uprightis to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
16:17 The high - way - Their common road, in which they walk, tho' through frailty or temptation they slip into the bypath of sin. From evil - From the evil of sin, and consequently from the evil of punishment. Keepeth - That takes heed to walk in that high - way.
Pridegoeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Betterit is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happyis he.
16:20 Good - He who orders his affairs with discretion.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
16:21 The wise - He who is truly wise, shall be so accounted by others. Sweetness - Eloquence added to wisdom. Increaseth - Both in himself, for while a man teaches others, he improves himself; and others, who by this means are induced to hear and receive his instructions.
Understandingis a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of foolsis folly.
16:22 The instruction - Their most grave and serious counsels are foolish.
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
16:23 Teacheth - Directs him what to speak, and keeps him from speaking foolishly. Addeth - Enables him to speak learnedly and wisely.
Pleasant wordsare as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereofare the ways of death.
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lipsthere is as a burning fire.
16:27 Diggeth up - Prosecutes his evil designs with great industry. His lips - His tongue is set on fire of hell.
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the waythat is not good.
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
16:30 Shutteth - That his thoughts may be more intent. Moving - Which is the gesture of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged.
The hoary headis a crown of glory,if it be found in the way of righteousness.
He that is slow to angeris better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
16:32 Is better - Of a more gallant and generous spirit, and more valiant and victorious.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereofis of the LORD.
16:33 The lot - As the ancient practice was in deciding doubtful things. The event of which though casual to men, is directed by God's providence.
