This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Nothing God has made goes to waste; He is sovereign over all. Even the “wicked” are used by God to accomplish His will. We see this throughout the Bible, as God often uses evil nations to bring judgment upon Israel.
In Isaiah 10:5-7 God used the Assyrians, a violent and idolatrous nation to being judgement on Israel.”O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
In Habakkuk 1:6 God uses the wicked Babylonian empire to discipline His own people. “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.”
Pharaoh was wicked and given chance to repent but refused, God used him for His glory “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
God does not create evil, nor does He tempt anyone to do evil as James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”. Instead of being created evil, man was created upright, as Ecclesiastes 7:29 declares: “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions”. Man becomes evil, as Paul explains in Romans 1:21: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”.
Then the Potter, who “made all things for himself”, uses this “marred” or “wicked” clay for His purposes, such as judgment, as we see above. The outcome of the clay is not determined by the Potter’s skill but by the condition of the clay itself. Jeremiah 18:4 “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it”. The clay here represents Israel, and due to their bad choices, they became marred; yet God, in His sovereignty, will remake them for another purpose.
In the story of Joseph we see how God turned around the evil for great good. Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Furthermore, we see that God’s heart is not for the wicked to remain in their wickedness, but rather that they repent. As Ezekiel 33:11 tells us “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”. See also 1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
16
Proverbs 16 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Nothing God has made goes to waste; He is sovereign over all. Even the “wicked” are used by God to accomplish His will. We see this throughout the Bible, as God often uses evil nations to bring judgment upon Israel.
In Isaiah 10:5-7 God used the Assyrians, a violent and idolatrous nation to being judgement on Israel.”O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
In Habakkuk 1:6 God uses the wicked Babylonian empire to discipline His own people. “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.”
Pharaoh was wicked and given chance to repent but refused, God used him for His glory “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
God does not create evil, nor does He tempt anyone to do evil as James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”. Instead of being created evil, man was created upright, as Ecclesiastes 7:29 declares: “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions”. Man becomes evil, as Paul explains in Romans 1:21: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”.
Then the Potter, who “made all things for himself”, uses this “marred” or “wicked” clay for His purposes, such as judgment, as we see above. The outcome of the clay is not determined by the Potter’s skill but by the condition of the clay itself. Jeremiah 18:4 “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it”. The clay here represents Israel, and due to their bad choices, they became marred; yet God, in His sovereignty, will remake them for another purpose.
In the story of Joseph we see how God turned around the evil for great good. Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Furthermore, we see that God’s heart is not for the wicked to remain in their wickedness, but rather that they repent. As Ezekiel 33:11 tells us “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”. See also 1 Timothy 2:3–4, 2 Peter 3:9.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.