Proverbs 16

1. The preparations of the heart in man, etc. Rather (as R.V.), “To man [belong] the preparations of the heart; but from Jehovah [is] the answer of the tongue,” or, “A man may think what he will say, but at the moment the word comes to him from the Eternal” (Moffatt).

4. The Lord hath made all things for Himself. More literally, “God has made everything for its (or his) correspondence”; i.e., so that one thing answers to, or corresponds with, another. Thus, “even the wicked [corresponds] to the day of evil”; i.e., by Divine arrangement the punishment is not only connected with, but is adapted to, the sin.

5. Though hand join in hand. See note on xi. 21.

6 purged. Or, “expiated”; i.e., forgiven: see Dan. iv. 27; Matt. xxiii. 23. A warning to those who misused Divinely-appointed sacrifices, supposing that these might exonerate the offerers from personal holiness: see Jas. ii. 14-26.

11. All the weights of the bag. Just weights are said to be the work of the Eternal, because He has prescribed them, and has condemned all fraud in respect of them (see Lev. xix. 36), and in respect of all our dealings with others.

12 an abomination. These proverbs (12, 13) suppose the king to be what he should be, but too often is not.

15 as a cloud of the latter rain. That is, producing joy and prosperity: see Deut. xi. 14.

19 to divide the spoil. Implying victory, with the consequent exultation.

20. He that handieth a matter wisely. Or, “He who giveth heed to the word (i.e., the word of God) shall find good,” or, success.

21 the sweetness of the lips, etc. He who is wise will gain respect; but if he should also impart his wisdom pleasantly, he will be a more efficient teacher.

22 the instruction of fools, etc. Or, “the correction of fools is their folly” (R.V.); i.e., their folly is its own punishment.

26. He that laboureth laboureth for himself. Or, “The soul of a working man worketh for him”; i.e., his own appetite urges him to work to satisfy his hunger: see Eccles. vi. 7.

27. An ungodly man. Heb., “a man of Belial,” i.e., a worthless or mischievous man. He digs a pit for others to fall into, and his words are destructive as fire.

31 [if] it be found, etc. Rather, “In the way of righteousness, it is found”; i.e. a venerable old age is one of the rewards of righteousness.

32 the mighty. That is, the warrior or hero.

than he that taketh a city. Self-conquest is the greatest of victories. “Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, These three alone lead life to sovereign power” (Tennyson).

33 the whole disposing thereof. Rather, “all the decision of it.”