6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah [men] depart from evil.
A wise [man] feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
But rather give alms of what ye have, and behold, all things are clean to you.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth to unfeigned brotherly love, love one another out of a pure heart fervently;
submitting yourselves to one another in [the] fear of Christ.
And Abraham said, Because I said, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.
[As to] every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and [as to] every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.
Who is a ùGod like unto thee, that forgiveth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in loving-kindness. He will yet again have compassion on us, he will tread under foot our iniquities: and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform truth to Jacob, loving-kindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers, from the days of old.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil. And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. And his substance was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; and this man was greater than all the children of the east. And his sons went and made a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings [according to] the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them. And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil?
But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 16
Commentary on Proverbs 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
Pr 16:1-33.
1. preparations—schemes.
in man—or literally, "to man," belonging, or pertaining to him.
the answer … Lord—The efficient ordering is from God: "Man proposes; God disposes."
2. clean—or, "faultless."
weigheth—or, "tries," "judges," implying that they are faulty (Pr 21:2; 24:12).
3. (Compare Margin). Rely on God for success to your lawful purposes.
4. for himself—"for its answer," or "purpose," that is, according to God's plan; the wicked are for the day of evil (Ps 49:5; Jer 17:18); sinning and suffering answer to each other, are indissolubly united.
5. (Compare Pr 3:32).
6. By mercy and truth—that is, God's (Ps 85:10); He effects the atonement, or covering of sin; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, "mercy" and "truth" may be man's, indicative of the gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon.
purged—expiated (as in Le 16:33; Isa 27:9, Hebrew).
7. Persecutions, of course, excepted.
8. (Compare Pr 15:6, 16, 17).
9. (Compare Pr 16:3).
directeth—establisheth.
10. The last clause depends on the first, expressing the importance of equity in decisions, so authoritative.
11. are the Lord's … his work—that is, what He has ordered, and hence should be observed by men.
12. Rulers are rightly expected, by their position, to hate evil; for their power is sustained by righteousness.
13. A specification of the general sentiment of Pr 16:12.
14. This wrath, so terrible and certain, like messengers of death (1Ki 2:25), can be appeased by the wise.
15. light of … countenance—favor (Ps 4:6).
life—preserves it, or gives blessings which make it valuable.
the latter rain—fell just before harvest and matured the crop; hence specially valuable (De 11:14).
16. (Compare Pr 3:16; 4:5).
17. The highway—A common, plain road represents the habitual course of the righteous in departing from evil.
keepeth—observes.
18, 19. (Compare Pr 15:33). Haughtiness and pride imply self-confidence which produces carelessness, and hence
a fall—literally, "sliding."
19. divide the spoil—that is, conquer. Avoid the society of the proud (Jas 4:6).
20. handleth a matter—wisely considers "the word," that is, of God (compare Pr 13:13).
trusteth—(Compare Ps 2:12; 118:8, 9).
21. wise in heart—who rightly consider duty.
sweetness of the lips—eloquent discourse, persuades and instructs others.
22. Understanding—or, "discretion," is a constant source of blessing (Pr 13:14), benefiting others; but fools' best efforts are folly.
23. The heart is the source of wisdom flowing from the mouth.
24. (Compare Pr 15:26). Gentle, kind words, by soothing the mind, give the body health.
25. (Compare Pr 14:2).
26. Diligence is a duty due to one's self, for his wants require labor.
27. ungodly man—(Compare Pr 6:12).
diggeth up evil—labors for it.
in his lips … fire—His words are calumniating (Jas 3:6).
28. (Compare Pr 6:14; 10:31).
whisperer—prater, talebearer (Pr 18:8; 26:20).
29. violent man—or, "man of mischief" (Pr 3:31).
enticeth—(Pr 1:10).
30. He shutteth his eyes—denoting deep thought (Ps 64:6).
moving his lips—or, "biting his lips"—a determined purpose (Pr 6:13).
31. (Compare Pr 20:29).
if—or, which may be supplied properly, or without it the sense is as in Pr 3:16; 4:10, that piety is blessed with long life.
32. (Compare Pr 14:29).
taketh a city—that is, by fighting.
33. Seemingly the most fortuitous events are ordered by God.