The Book of Proverbs Chapter 16

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is
from the LORD.

We humans make plans, but the LORD has the final word.

Proverbs There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the
19:21 LORD, that shall stand.

Balaam prepared a curse in his own heart, but the answer of the tongue was a
blessing:

Numbers And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to
23:11 curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
Numbers And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the
23:12 LORD hath put in my mouth?

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth
the spirits.

The Lord knows all men and all hearts:

John Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed
2:23 in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
2:24
John And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
2:25

The Lord refused Eliab, and the rest of David’s brothers as king, even though
Samuel loved him because of his looks. Man looks on outward appearance, but the
Lord looks on the heart:

I And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said,
Samuel Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.
16:6
I But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height
Samuel of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man
16:7 seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on
the heart.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans:

Psalm Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine
37:4 heart.
Psalm Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to
37:5 pass.
I Peter Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
5:6 you in due time:
I Peter Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
5:7
I PeterBe sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
5:8 walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I PeterWhom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
5:9 accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
I PeterBut the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
5:10 Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle you.
Matthew But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
6:33 things shall be added unto you.

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the
day of evil.

The wicked are fitted for their role for the day of calamity and evil.
Jude For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
1:4 this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

No weapon formed against the Lord shall prosper.

Isaiah No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall
54:17 rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the
servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

I started out explaining Proverbs 16:4 with Isaiah 54:17 because we know that the
Lord is not evil, but he knows that evil people will come against Him and His people.

Matthew Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences
18:7 come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Whenever evil people plan to destroy the Lord’s people, not only do they loose, they
actually unwittingly glorify him. The best example of that is the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ. Jesus was in complete control of his entire crucifixion.

Q: Who chose the disciple in the beginning that would eventually betray Jesus?

A: Jesus

John Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
6:70
John He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray
6:71 him, being one of the twelve.

Note: The word “chose” is used 12 times in all four gospels combined.

Q: Who chose when the betrayal of Jesus was going to take place?

A: Jesus

John Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of
13:24 whom he spake.
John He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
13:25
John Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And
13:26 when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Q: Who chose when Satan entered Judas and gave Satan direct orders to make it Quick?

A: Jesus
John And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou
13:27 doest, do quickly.

Q: Who knew the perfect time for Jesus to be captured, so that prophecy could be
fulfilled?

A: Jesus

John Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant,
18:10 and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
John Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my
18:11 Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
John Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound
18:12 him,
John And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which
18:13 was the high priest that same year.

Q: Who gave power to the kings to crucify the Lord Jesus so that prophecy could be
fulfilled?

A: God the Father

John Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I
19:10 have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
John Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were
19:11 given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater
sin.

Q: In I Chronicles 21, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number
Israel. David did so and was punished by God. Why did God allow Caesar to number the
people for the purpose of taxing them?

A: So that Jesus could be born in Bethlehem, which was a fulfillment of prophecy.

Luke And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
2:1 Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luke (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
2:2
Luke And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
2:3
Luke And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
2:4 unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage of David:)
Q: Read Revelation Chapter 9. Even though angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in
the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon is the
king of the locusts, who determined when the locust would be released?

A: God

Revelation And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth:
9:1 and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Revelation And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as
9:2 the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by
reason of the smoke of the pit.
Revelation And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was
9:3 given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Q: Who gave the locust their power and controlled the limitation of their power?

A: God

Revelation And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth,
9:4 neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not
the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should
9:5 be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a
scorpion, when he striketh a man.

Bonus Question: Does Satan control the outcome of anything?

A: No

I Corinthians But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
2:7 which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
I Corinthians Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they
2:8 would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

There is no evil in God. Proverbs 16:4 lets us know that God in control of everything,
but he gives man free will:

James Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
1:13 tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
1:14

Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though
hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all
4:37 whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he
is able to abase.

a·base \ə-‘bās\

Pronunciation K[ə-bās']

–verb (used with object), a·based, a·bas·ing.

1. to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble;

degrade.
2. Archaic, to lower; put or bring
down

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men
depart from evil.

There are seven verses with “The fear of the LORD” within the body of the verse in
the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

1:29
Proverbs If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
2:4
Proverbs Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of
2:5 God.
Proverbs In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a
14:26 place of refuge.
Proverbs Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble
15:16 therewith.
Proverbs By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart
16:6 from evil.
Proverbs By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

22:4
Proverbs Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day
23:17 long.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be
at peace with him.
Exodus But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be
23:22 an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
Psalm A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
27:1 the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my
27:2 flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Luke Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all
10:19 the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Matthew For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
16:26 own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not
in judgment.

I Kings And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared
3:28 the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are
his work.

God cares about honesty in the workplace and in business;

Proverbs A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just WEIGHT is his
11:1 delight.
Proverbs A just WEIGHT and balance are the Lord’s: all the WEIGHTs of the bag are
16:11 his work.
Proverbs Divers WEIGHTs, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to
20:10 the LORD.
Proverbs Divers WEIGHTs are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is
20:23 not good.
Proverbs Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false BALANCE is
20:23 not good.

Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is

established by righteousness.

I Timothy I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
2:1 giving of thanks, be made for all men;
I Timothy For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
2:2 peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
I Timothy For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
2:3
I Timothy Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
2:4 truth.

Proverbs 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh
right.

Proverbs 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will
pacify it.

II Chronicles And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and
34:20 Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of
the king’s, saying,
II Chronicles Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in
34:21 Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the
wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have
not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

Proverbs 16:15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud
of the latter rain.

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding
rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his
way preserveth his soul.

Isaiah And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of
35:8 holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the
wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Daniel The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house
4:30 of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Daniel While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying,
4:31 O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
Daniel And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of
4:32 the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass
over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and
giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the
spoil with the proud.

Exodus The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust
15:9 shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in
the LORD, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips
increaseth learning.

Pru·dent

Pronunciation: \-dənt\

Function: adjective

1. Careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; “a prudent manager”; “prudent

rulers”; “prudent hesitation”; “more prudent to hide than to fight”.

2. Showing wise self-restraint in speech and behavior especially in preserving prudent

silence; “maintained a prudent silence”.

Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the
instruction of fools is folly.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the
bones.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death.

I Thessalonians But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write
5:1 unto you.
I Thessalonians For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
5:2 thief in the night.
I Thessalonians For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
5:3 cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall
not escape.
I Thessalonians But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you
5:4 as a thief.
I Thessalonians Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of
5:5 the night, nor of darkness.
I Thessalonians Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
5:6

Proverbs 16:26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

Appetite is an incentive to work:

II Thessalonians For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
3:10 would not work, neither should he eat.

Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

Shun profane and vain babblings:

II Timothy Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
2:15 ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
II Timothy But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
2:16 ungodliness.
Proverbs Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the
14:7 lips of knowledge.

Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment:

Matthew O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of
12:34 the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:
12:35 and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall
12:36 give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that
is not good.

Proverbs 16:30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he
bringeth evil to pass.

This is a law against conspiracies:

Exodus Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an
23:1 unrighteous witness.
Exodus Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a
23:2 cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Exodus Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
23:3

Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of
righteousness.

hoar·y

Pronunciatio[ hôr'ē, hōr'ē] hoar·i·er, hoar·i·est.

Function: adjective,

1. gray or white with age: an old man with a hoary

head.

Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his
spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the
LORD.

We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.

Even though many chief rulers believed in Jesus, they chose the path that seemed
right in the eyes of men by rejecting Jesus. For a person to get kicked out of the
synagogue was a public embarrassment, and a chief ruler would lose his status,
and would be publicly shamed. Those that chose the praise of men instead of Jesus
got their reward by being highly esteemed by others. Those men have no reward in
heaven. This tactic of shunning others who walk in the Word is used in our present
day to conform the masses to the satanic Babylonian system.

John Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of
12:42 the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:
John For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
12:43