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Text -- Proverbs 16:1-23 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
16:1 The intentions of the heart belong to a man , but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord .
16:2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion , but the Lord evaluates the motives .
16:3 Commit your works to the Lord , and your plans will be established .
16:4 The Lord works everything for its own ends – even the wicked for the day of disaster .
16:5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person ; rest assured that they will not go unpunished .
16:6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased ; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil .
16:7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord , he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
16:8 Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice .
16:9 A person plans his course , but the Lord directs his steps .
16:10 The divine verdict is in the words of the king , his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice .
16:11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord ; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork .
16:12 Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings , because a throne is established in righteousness .
16:13 The delight of kings is righteous counsel , and they love the one who speaks uprightly .
16:14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death , but a wise person appeases it.
16:15 In the light of the king’s face there is life , and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain .
16:16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold ; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver .
16:17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil ; the one who guards his way safeguards his life .
16:18 Pride goes before destruction , and a haughty spirit before a fall .
16:19 It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud .
16:20 The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success , and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord .
16:21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning , and kind speech increases persuasiveness .
16:22 Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools .
16:23 A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Pro 16:1; Pro 16:1; Pro 16:1; Pro 16:1; Pro 16:1; Pro 16:1; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:3; Pro 16:3; Pro 16:3; Pro 16:3; Pro 16:4; Pro 16:4; Pro 16:4; Pro 16:5; Pro 16:5; Pro 16:5; Pro 16:5; Pro 16:5; Pro 16:6; Pro 16:6; Pro 16:6; Pro 16:6; Pro 16:6; Pro 16:7; Pro 16:7; Pro 16:7; Pro 16:7; Pro 16:8; Pro 16:8; Pro 16:9; Pro 16:9; Pro 16:9; Pro 16:9; Pro 16:10; Pro 16:10; Pro 16:10; Pro 16:10; Pro 16:11; Pro 16:11; Pro 16:12; Pro 16:12; Pro 16:13; Pro 16:13; Pro 16:13; Pro 16:13; Pro 16:14; Pro 16:14; Pro 16:14; Pro 16:14; Pro 16:15; Pro 16:15; Pro 16:15; Pro 16:15; Pro 16:16; Pro 16:16; Pro 16:17; Pro 16:17; Pro 16:17; Pro 16:17; Pro 16:18; Pro 16:18; Pro 16:18; Pro 16:19; Pro 16:19; Pro 16:20; Pro 16:20; Pro 16:20; Pro 16:20; Pro 16:20; Pro 16:21; Pro 16:21; Pro 16:21; Pro 16:21; Pro 16:22; Pro 16:22; Pro 16:22; Pro 16:22; Pro 16:23; Pro 16:23; Pro 16:23; Pro 16:23
NET Notes: Pro 16:1 There are two ways this statement can be taken: (1) what one intends to say and what one actually says are the same, or (2) what one actually says dif...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:2 Humans deceive themselves rather easily and so appear righteous in their own eyes; but the proverb says that God evaluates motives and so he alone can...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:3 The syntax of the second clause shows that there is subordination: The vav on וְיִכֹּנוּ (...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:4 This is an example of synthetic parallelism (“A, what’s more B”). The A-line affirms a truth, and the B-line expands on it with a sp...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:5 The B-line continues the A-line, but explains what it means that they are an abomination to the Lord – he will punish them. “Will not go u...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:6 The Hebrew word translated “evil” (רַע, ra’) can in some contexts mean “calamity” or “disaster,&...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:8 This is another “better” saying; between these two things, the first is better. There are other options – such as righteousness with...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:9 “Steps” is an implied comparison, along with “way,” to indicate the events of the plan as they work out.
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NET Notes: Pro 16:10 The second line gives the effect of the first: If the king delivers such oracular sayings (קֶסֶם, qesem, translated R...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:12 The “throne” represents the administration, or the decisions made from the throne by the king, and so the word is a metonymy of adjunct (c...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:13 The verse is talking about righteous kings, of course – they love righteousness and not flattery. In this proverb “righteous” and ...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:14 The verb is כָּפַּר (kapar), which means “to pacify; to appease” and “to atone; to expiate...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:15 Heb “latter rain” (so KJV, ASV). The favor that this expression represents is now compared to the cloud of rain that comes with the “...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:16 The form is a Niphal participle, masculine singular. If it is modifying “understanding” it should be a feminine form. If it is to be trans...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:17 The LXX adds three lines after 17a and one after 17b: “The paths of life turn aside from evils, and the ways of righteousness are length of life...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:18 Many proverbs have been written in a similar way to warn against the inevitable disintegration and downfall of pride. W. McKane records an Arabic prov...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:19 Heb “than to divide plunder.” The word “plunder” implies that the wealth taken by the proud was taken violently and wrongfully...
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NET Notes: Pro 16:22 Heb “the discipline of fools [is] folly.” The “discipline” (מוּסָר, musar) in this proverb...
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