20 He that handleth a matter H1697 wisely H7919 shall find H4672 good: H2896 and whoso trusteth H982 in the LORD, H3068 happy H835 is he.
He that getteth H7069 wisdom H3820 loveth H157 his own soul: H5315 he that keepeth H8104 understanding H8394 shall find H4672 good. H2896
Good H2896 understanding H7922 giveth H5414 favour: H2580 but the way H1870 of transgressors H898 is hard. H386
Blessed H1288 is the man H1397 that trusteth H982 in the LORD, H3068 and whose hope H4009 the LORD H3068 is. For he shall be as a tree H6086 planted H8362 by the waters, H4325 and that spreadeth out H7971 her roots H8328 by the river, H3105 and shall not see H7200 when heat H2527 cometh, H935 but her leaf H5929 shall be green; H7488 and shall not be careful H1672 in the year H8141 of drought, H1226 neither shall cease H4185 from yielding H6213 fruit. H6529
That G1519 we G2248 should be G1511 to G1519 the praise G1868 of his G846 glory, G1391 who G3588 first trusted G4276 in G1722 Christ. G5547 In G1722 whom G3739 ye G5210 also G2532 trusted, after that ye heard G191 the word G3056 of truth, G225 the gospel G2098 of your G5216 salvation: G4991 in G1722 whom G3739 also G2532 after that ye believed, G4100 ye were sealed with G4972 that holy G40 Spirit G4151 of promise, G1860
Behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 you G5209 forth G649 as G5613 sheep G4263 in G1722 the midst G3319 of wolves: G3074 be ye G1096 therefore G3767 wise G5429 as G5613 serpents, G3789 and G2532 harmless G185 as G5613 doves. G4058
Then H116 was the king H4430 exceeding H7690 glad H2868 for him, H5922 and commanded H560 that they should take H5267 Daniel H1841 up H5267 out of H4481 the den. H1358 So Daniel H1841 was taken up H5267 out of H4481 the den, H1358 and no H3809 manner H3606 of hurt H2257 was found H7912 upon him, because he believed H540 in his God. H426
Then Nebuchadnezzar H5020 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Blessed H1289 be the God H426 of Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 who hath sent H7972 his angel, H4398 and delivered H7804 his servants H5649 that trusted H7365 in him, H5922 and have changed H8133 the king's H4430 word, H4406 and yielded H3052 their bodies, H1655 that they might not H3809 serve H6399 nor H3809 worship H5457 any H3606 god, H426 except H3861 their own God. H426
And the king H4428 communed H1696 with them; and among them all was found H4672 none like Daniel, H1840 Hananiah, H2608 Mishael, H4332 and Azariah: H5838 therefore stood H5975 they before H6440 the king. H4428 And in all matters H1697 of wisdom H2451 and understanding, H998 that the king H4428 enquired H1245 of them, he found H4672 them ten times H6235 better H3027 than all the magicians H2748 and astrologers H825 that were in all his realm. H4438 And Daniel H1840 continued even unto the first H259 year H8141 of king H4428 Cyrus. H3566
And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Can we find H4672 such a one as this H2088 is, a man H376 in whom H834 the Spirit H7307 of God H430 is? And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Forasmuch H310 as God H430 hath shewed H3045 thee all this, there is none so discreet H995 and wise H2450 as thou art: Thou shalt be H1961 over my house, H1004 and according unto thy word H6310 shall all my people H5971 be ruled: H5401 only in the throne H3678 will I be greater H1431 than thou.
Thou wilt keep H5341 him in perfect H7965 peace, H7965 whose mind H3336 is stayed H5564 on thee: because he trusteth H982 in thee. Trust H982 ye in the LORD H3068 for ever: H5703 for in the LORD H3050 JEHOVAH H3068 is everlasting H5769 strength: H6697
Through wisdom H2451 is an house H1004 builded; H1129 and by understanding H8394 it is established: H3559 And by knowledge H1847 shall the chambers H2315 be filled H4390 with all precious H3368 and pleasant H5273 riches. H1952 A wise H2450 man H1397 is strong; H5797 yea, a man H376 of knowledge H1847 increaseth H553 strength. H3581
A wise H7919 servant H5650 shall have rule H4910 over a son H1121 that causeth shame, H954 and shall have part H2505 of the inheritance H5159 among H8432 the brethren. H251
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 They that trust H982 in the LORD H3068 shall be as mount H2022 Zion, H6726 which cannot be removed, H4131 but abideth H3427 for ever. H5769
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,