Proverbs 16:2-28 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:7

When a man's ways please the Lord ,.... As they do when a man walks according to the rule of his word; when he walks as he has Christ for an example; when he walks after the Spirit, and not after the flesh; when he walks by faith, and does all he does in faith; without which it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6 ; and when all his ways and actions are directed to the glory of God; he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him ; as Abimelech with Isaac, Esau with Jacob; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness ,.... Gotten in a righteous way, held by a righteous claim, used in a righteous manner, attended with a life of righteousness and holiness; and also along with an interest in the righteousness of Christ, which renders acceptable unto God, yields peace and comfort, and entitles to eternal glory and happiness. A truly righteous man may have but little of this world's goods; but his small pittance is better than great revenues without right ; obtained... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:9

A man's heart deviseth his way ,.... This is to be understood, not of a wicked man, in whose heart is frowardness, and who devises mischief and evil imaginations continually, Proverbs 6:14 ; for such are an abomination to the Lord; nor will he direct their goings, or prosper and succeed them in their ways: but of a good man, or righteous man, as Aben Ezra; who thinks of the way in which he should go, and desires to walk in a right way, as Jarchi; and who is influenced by the Spirit and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:10

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king ,.... Or "divination" F6 קסם "divinatio", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens. , as the word signifies; or what is like to divination, as Aben Ezra and Gersom interpret it F7 So Vatablus, Mercerus, Piscator. . What be says is as an oracle, and should be strictly true. Some understand it of the sagacity and penetration of kings, as was in Solomon, and appeared in his judging the two harlots; but such is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:11

A just weight and balance are the Lord's ,.... These are of his devising; what he has put into the heart, of men to contrive and make use of, for the benefit of mankind, for the keeping and maintaining truth and justice in commercial affairs; these are of his appointing, commanding, and approving, Leviticus 19:35 ; all the weights of the bag are his work ; or, "all the stones" F8 אבני "lapides", Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis. ; greater or smaller, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:12

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness ,.... The Targum is, "the abomination of kings are they that work wickedness.' It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness themselves, and those that do it should be abhorred by them, or they should show their resentment at it by removing them from their presence, or by punishing them: and though there have been such kings as David, Psalm 101:4 ; yet there are but few such; this is not true of kings in common; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:13

Righteous lips are the delight of kings ,.... Such that speak truth and righteousness, and advise to the administration of justice and judgment, and to do that which is most for their own true honour and the people's good, are, or ought to be, highly valued and esteemed by kings: but the contrary is too often the case; kings hearken to those that speak lies, that flatter them, and gratify their pride, ambition, and love of power, to the hurt of their subjects; and they love him that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:14

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death ,.... Or, "angels of death", as the Targum. As the wrath of Ahasuerus was to Haman; when it is either discovered in the countenance of a king, or expressed by his words, or signified by a messenger; it sometimes has been immediate death to a person, and often as terrible as if a messenger brought the sentence of death; yea, it is as if one messenger after another was sent on such an errand, and therefore the word is in the plural number. How... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:15

In the light of the king's countenance is life ,.... When he looks with a pleasant smiling countenance on a person that has been under his displeasure, and especially if under a sentence of death, it is as life from the dead: so the light of the countenance of God, the King of kings; the discoveries of his love, the manifestations of himself, his gracious presence, communion with him, the comforts of his Spirit, the joys of his salvation, are life unto his people, invigorate their graces,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:16

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold ?.... To obtain and possess Christ, the fountain of wisdom, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which treasures are infinitely preferable to thousands of gold and silver; to gain the knowledge of him, and of God in him, with which eternal life is connected, and in comparison of which all things are loss and dung; to have wisdom in the hidden part, or grace in the heart, which is much more precious than gold that... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:16

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