16 How much better H2896 is it to get H7069 wisdom H2451 than gold! H2742 and to get H7069 understanding H998 rather to be chosen H977 than silver! H3701
My fruit H6529 is better H2896 than gold, H2742 yea, than fine gold; H6337 and my revenue H8393 than choice H977 silver. H3701
Receive H3947 my instruction, H4148 and not silver; H3701 and knowledge H1847 rather than choice H977 gold. H2742 For wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than rubies; H6443 and all the things that may be desired H2656 are not to be compared H7737 to it.
Man H582 knoweth H3045 not the price H6187 thereof; neither is it found H4672 in the land H776 of the living. H2416 The depth H8415 saith, H559 It is not in me: and the sea H3220 saith, H559 It is not with me. It cannot be gotten H5414 for gold, H5458 neither shall silver H3701 be weighed H8254 for the price H4242 thereof. It cannot be valued H5541 with the gold H3800 of Ophir, H211 with the precious H3368 onyx, H7718 or the sapphire. H5601 The gold H2091 and the crystal H2137 cannot equal H6186 it: and the exchange H8545 of it shall not be for jewels H3627 of fine gold. H6337 No mention H2142 shall be made of coral, H7215 or of pearls: H1378 for the price H4901 of wisdom H2451 is above rubies. H6443 The topaz H6357 of Ethiopia H3568 shall not equal H6186 it, neither shall it be valued H5541 with pure H2889 gold. H3800 Whence H370 then cometh H935 wisdom? H2451 and where is the place H4725 of understanding? H998 Seeing it is hid H5956 from the eyes H5869 of all living, H2416 and kept close H5641 from the fowls H5775 of the air. H8064 Destruction H11 and death H4194 say, H559 We have heard H8085 the fame H8088 thereof with our ears. H241 God H430 understandeth H995 the way H1870 thereof, and he knoweth H3045 the place H4725 thereof. For he looketh H5027 to the ends H7098 of the earth, H776 and seeth H7200 under the whole heaven; H8064 To make H6213 the weight H4948 for the winds; H7307 and he weigheth H8505 the waters H4325 by measure. H4060 When he made H6213 a decree H2706 for the rain, H4306 and a way H1870 for the lightning H2385 of the thunder: H6963 Then did he see H7200 it, and declare H5608 it; he prepared H3559 it, yea, and searched it out. H2713 And unto man H120 he said, H559 Behold, the fear H3374 of the Lord, H136 that is wisdom; H2451 and to depart H5493 from evil H7451 is understanding. H998
Therefore I love H157 thy commandments H4687 above gold; H2091 yea, above fine gold. H6337
She is more precious H3368 than rubies: H6443 and all the things thou canst desire H2656 are not to be compared H7737 unto her. Length H753 of days H3117 is in her right hand; H3225 and in her left hand H8040 riches H6239 and honour. H3519 Her ways H1870 are ways H1870 of pleasantness, H5278 and all her paths H5410 are peace. H7965 She is a tree H6086 of life H2416 to them that lay hold H2388 upon her: and happy H833 is every one that retaineth H8551 her.
For wisdom H2451 is a defence, H6738 and money H3701 is a defence: H6738 but the excellency H3504 of knowledge H1847 is, that wisdom H2451 giveth life H2421 to them that have H1167 it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 16
Commentary on Proverbs 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
Pro 16:1
As we read this, it teaches us a great truth, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing of ourselves that is wise and good, but that all our sufficiency is of God, who is with the heart and with the mouth, and works in us both to will and to do, Phil. 2:13; Ps. 10:17. But most read it otherwise: The preparation of the heart is in man (he may contrive and design this and the other) but the answer of the tongue, not only the delivering of what he designed to speak, but the issue and success of what he designed to do, is of the Lord. That is, in short,
Pro 16:2
Note,
Pro 16:3
Note,
Pro 16:4
Note,
Pro 16:5
Note,
Pro 16:6
See here,
Pro 16:7
Note,
Pro 16:8
Here,
Pro 16:9
Man is here represented to us,
Pro 16:10
We wish this were always true as a proposition, and we ought to make it our prayer for kings, and all in authority, that a divine sentence may be in their lips, both in giving orders, that they may do that in wisdom, and in giving sentence, that they may do that in equity, both which are included in judgment, and that in neither their mouth may transgress, 1 Tim. 2:1. But it is often otherwise; and therefore,
Pro 16:11
Note,
Pro 16:12
Here is,
Pro 16:13
Here is a further character of good kings, that they love and delight in those that speak right.
Pro 16:14-15
These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which maintains the prerogative of the prince without any injury to the liberty of the subject. But here it is intimated,
Pro 16:16
Solomon here not only asserts that it is better to get wisdom than gold (ch. 3:14, 8:19), but he speaks it with assurance, that it is much better, better beyond expression-with admiration (How much better!) as one amazed at the disproportion-with an appeal to men's consciences ("Judge in yourselves how much better it is')-and with an addition to the same purport, that understanding is rather to be chosen than silver and all the treasures of kings and their favourites. Note,
Pro 16:17
Note,
Pro 16:18
Note,
Pro 16:19
This is a paradox which the children of this world cannot understand and will not subscribe to, that it is better to be poor and humble than to be rich and proud.
Pro 16:20
Note,
Pro 16:21
Note,
Pro 16:22
Note,
Pro 16:23
Solomon had commended eloquence, or the sweetness of the lips (v. 21), and seemed to prefer it before wisdom; but here he corrects himself, as it were, and shows that unless there be a good treasure within to support the eloquence it is worth little. Wisdom in the heart is the main matter.
Pro 16:24
The pleasant words here commended must be those which the heart of the wise teaches, and adds learning to (v. 23), words of seasonable advice, instruction, and comfort, words taken from God's word, for that is it which Solomon had learned from his father to account sweeter than honey and the honey-comb, Ps. 19:10. These words, to those that know how to relish them,
Pro 16:25
This we had before (ch. 14:12), but here it is repeated, as that which is very necessary to be thought of,
Pro 16:26
This is designed to engage us to diligence, and quicken us, what our hand finds to do, to do it with all our might, both in our worldly business and in the work of religion; for in the original it is, The soul that labours labours for itself. It is heart-work which is here intended, the labour of the soul, which is here recommended to us,
Pro 16:27-28
There are those that are not only vicious themselves, but spiteful and mischievous to others, and they are the worst of men; two sorts of such are here described:-
Pro 16:29-30
Here is another sort of evil men described to us, that we may neither do like them, nor have any thing to do with them.
Pro 16:31
Note,
Pro 16:32
This recommends the grace of meekness to us, which will well become us all, particularly the hoary head, v. 31. Observe,
Pro 16:33
Note,