Proverbs 16:21-Isaiah

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Proverbs 16:21

v. 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent, regarded as possessing true discernment, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning, that is, where one makes use of grace, of a pleasant and attractive manner, in teaching, he will have easy access to ever-widening circles of hearers. read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Proverbs 16:1-33

2. Admonition to a walk in the fear of God and obedienceProverbs 16:1 to Proverbs 22:16α) Admonition to trust in God as the wise Ruler and Governor of the worldChap. 161 Man’s are the counsels of the heart,but the answer of the tongue is Jehovah’s.2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.3 Commit thy works to Jehovah,so will thy plans be established.4 Jehovah hath made every thing for its end,even the wicked for the day of... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 16:1-33

Verse Proverbs 16:1. A somewhat obscure proverb which recognizes that man has to exercise his own reason in making his plans, but that he is dependent on the Lord for the answer of the tongue. Dr. Perowne's interpretation is most likely the correct one. He says: "The implied moral of the proverb is, If we cannot do the less without God, do not attempt to do the greater without Him." Verse Proverbs 16:4. This is simply the affirmation of the fact that in the orderliness of the divine economy... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 16:1-33

Proverbs Of Solomon Part 2 (Proverbs 15:22 to Proverbs 22:16 ). At this point there is a sudden switch from proverbs which contrast one thing with another, which have been predominant since Proverbs 10:1, to proverbs where the second clause adds something to the first. Whilst we still find some contrasting proverbs, especially at the beginning, they are not so common. This may suggest a deliberate intention by Solomon to separate his proverbs into two parts. Furthermore such a change at this... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 16:16-21

Wisdom Is To Be Sought And Pride Must Be Avoided By The One Who Would Walk In The Right Way With Trust In YHWH (Proverbs 16:16-21 ). In this subsection the envelopes of wisdom (Proverbs 16:16) - pride (Proverbs 16:18) - pride (Proverbs 16:19) - wisdom (Proverbs 16:21) surround the call to the reader to walk in the way of the upright and guard his way (Proverbs 16:17) and to give heed to the word and to trust in YHWH (Proverbs 16:20). The subsection is presented chiastically as follows: A ... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 16:1-33

Proverbs 16. The special feature is a group of aphorisms ( Proverbs 16:10-Ezra :) relating to kings. The sentiments seem rather to reflect the picture of the ideal king than to indicate any particular period. The metaphors employed and the character depicted suggest a parallel with the ideal king of Psalms 72. Proverbs 16:4 . The lit. rendering of Proverbs 16:4 a is “ Yahweh has made every work for its answer”— i.e. the nexus of cause and effect seen in the moral government of the world is... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: the sense is either, 1. He who hath wisdom or sound knowledge in his heart, will show it by his prudence in ordering his actions. Or rather, 2. He who is truly wise, or prudent, or intelligent (all which words most commonly signify one and the same thing, both in this and in other books of Scripture) shall be so called or accounted by others. The sweetness of the lips; eloquence added to wisdom; the faculty of expressing a man’s mind fitly, and freely,... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Proverbs 16:20-21

CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 16:20. Delitzsch and Zöckler translate the first clause “He that giveth heed to the Word findeth good.” Stuart and others, “He that is prudent respecting any matter.” Miller says, “Literally, wise about a word.” Proverbs 16:21. Sweetness, or “grace,” Learning, or “instruction” MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:20-21THE FRUITS OF TRUST IN THE LORDI. There can be no real blessedness in life unless there is trust in the Lord. Men are so constituted that, if they are to have... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:1-33

Shall we turn now to Proverbs 16:1-33 , the sixteenth chapter and begin our study this evening.The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD ( Proverbs 16:1 ).God works in our lives even when we're not aware of it. If we're a child of God, God is continually working in our lives. It's amazing how many times we say things that we don't realize that at the time we are saying it, but actually it's a word from the Lord. It just comes up. God prepares your... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 16:1-33

Proverbs 16:1 . The preparations of the heart in man. As the field must be plowed, and the soil prepared for the seeds, so the heart of man must be prepared for grace. Afflictions in Egypt disposed the Hebrews to cry, and instruction must prepare the soul of the ignorant for conversion. When the conscience is oppressed with sin, and the body groans with pain, then we pray in the Spirit, and the Lord graciously accords the answer of our tongue. The Versions vary the reading, but the above is... read more