What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PROVERBS • CHAPTER 16
Proverbs 16
Practical wisdom, speech, work, money, sexuality, family, justice, self-control, leadership, and fear of Yahweh.
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Proverbs 16
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1
The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
but Yahweh weighs the motives.
but Yahweh weighs the motives.
3
Commit your deeds to Yahweh,
and your plans shall succeed.
and your plans shall succeed.
4
Yahweh has made everything for its own end—
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh:
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
7
When a man’s ways please Yahweh,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8
Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues with injustice.
than great revenues with injustice.
9
A man’s heart plans his course,
but Yahweh directs his steps.
but Yahweh directs his steps.
10
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.
He shall not betray his mouth.
He shall not betray his mouth.
11
Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
for the throne is established by righteousness.
13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
They value one who speaks the truth.
They value one who speaks the truth.
14
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
but a wise man will pacify it.
15
In the light of the king’s face is life.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18
Pride goes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
21
The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
and adds learning to his lips.
24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25
There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
but in the end it leads to death.
26
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him;
for his mouth urges him on.
for his mouth urges him on.
27
A worthless man devises mischief.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
28
A perverse man stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
A whisperer separates close friends.
29
A man of violence entices his neighbor,
and leads him in a way that is not good.
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31
Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from Yahweh.
but its every decision is from Yahweh.
WISDOM
Where this chapter fits
Proverbs belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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