[1] The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
From the Lord — Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance.
Verse 2
[2] All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Weigheth — Exactly knows as men do the things which they weigh.
Spirits — The hearts of men.
Verse 3
[3] Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
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.
Verse 4
[4] The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
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.
Verse 6
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
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.
Verse 9
[9] A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Deviseth — Proposes what he will do.
Directeth — Over-rules and disposes all his designs and actions.
Verse 10
[10] A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
A divine sentence — Great sagacity and piercing judgment.
Of the king — Of wise kings; who only are worthy of that name and office.
Verse 11
[11] A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
The Lord's — Are made by his direction and appointment, so that no man can alter them without violating God's rights and authority.
Verse 15
[15] In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
A cloud — As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest.
Verse 17
[17] The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
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.
Verse 20
[20] He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Good — He who orders his affairs with discretion.
Verse 21
[21] The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
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.
Verse 22
[22] Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
The instruction — Their most grave and serious counsels are foolish.
Verse 23
[23] The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Teacheth — Directs him what to speak, and keeps him from speaking foolishly.
Addeth — Enables him to speak learnedly and wisely.
Verse 27
[27] An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Diggeth up — Prosecutes his evil designs with great industry.
His lips — His tongue is set on fire of hell.
Verse 30
[30] He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Shutteth — That his thoughts may be more intent.
Moving — Which is the gesture of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged.
Verse 32
[32] He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Is better — Of a more gallant and generous spirit, and more valiant and victorious.
Verse 33
[33] The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
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.
Proverbs 16 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
From the Lord — Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance.
Verse 2
[2] All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Weigheth — Exactly knows as men do the things which they weigh.
Spirits — The hearts of men.
Verse 3
[3] Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
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.
Verse 4
[4] The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
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.
Verse 6
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
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.
Verse 9
[9] A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Deviseth — Proposes what he will do.
Directeth — Over-rules and disposes all his designs and actions.
Verse 10
[10] A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
A divine sentence — Great sagacity and piercing judgment.
Of the king — Of wise kings; who only are worthy of that name and office.
Verse 11
[11] A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
The Lord's — Are made by his direction and appointment, so that no man can alter them without violating God's rights and authority.
Verse 15
[15] In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
A cloud — As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest.
Verse 17
[17] The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
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.
Verse 20
[20] He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Good — He who orders his affairs with discretion.
Verse 21
[21] The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
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.
Verse 22
[22] Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
The instruction — Their most grave and serious counsels are foolish.
Verse 23
[23] The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Teacheth — Directs him what to speak, and keeps him from speaking foolishly.
Addeth — Enables him to speak learnedly and wisely.
Verse 27
[27] An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Diggeth up — Prosecutes his evil designs with great industry.
His lips — His tongue is set on fire of hell.
Verse 30
[30] He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Shutteth — That his thoughts may be more intent.
Moving — Which is the gesture of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged.
Verse 32
[32] He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Is better — Of a more gallant and generous spirit, and more valiant and victorious.
Verse 33
[33] The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
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.