Proverbs 16:2-28 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:17

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil ,.... Upright persons, such who are upright in heart, and walk uprightly; these walk in the highway of holiness, in which men, though fools, shall not err; in the King's highway, the highway of the King of kings; in the plain beaten path of God's commandments; and so shun the bypaths of sin, and abstain from all appearance of it: this is their common constant course of life; they are studiously concerned to walk herein, and take delight in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:18

Pride goeth before destruction ,.... As it did in the angels that sinned, who, through pride, fell into condemnation, not being able to bear the thought that the human nature, in the person of the Son of God, should be advanced above theirs; and as it did in our first parents, who, not content with their present state and circumstances, and ambitious of being as gods, knowing good and evil, ruined themselves and all their posterity; and as it has done in many of their sons, as in Haman,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:19

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly ,.... The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, whose spirits are humbled under a sense of sin; have mean thoughts of themselves and their own righteousness, and submit to the righteousness of the Son of God, and wholly trust in him for salvation; and ascribe all they have and are to the free grace of God; humble themselves under the mighty hand of God; are resigned to his will, and patiently bear all afflictions without murmuring, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:20

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good ,.... That frames and composes his discourse well on any subject he takes in hand; or manages his affairs prudently and discreetly, in which he is concerned; or that wisely attends to the affair of humility, as Aben Ezra: or rather to the word, that is, to the word of God; is not a careless, negligent, unconcerned hearer of the word, but a diligent and attentive one; whose heart is opened by the Spirit of God to attend to what is spoken in it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent ,.... He that has true wisdom in the inward part; who knows his heart and the haughtiness of it; who has the fear of God in it, which is the beginning of wisdom; who is wise unto salvation, not only knows the scheme of it, but is experimentally acquainted with it; who has not head knowledge and wisdom only, but heart knowledge and wisdom, and behaves wisely in his life and conversation; who is so wise and endued with knowledge, as, out of a good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:22

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it ,.... "The master" or "owner of it" F11 בעליו "domini sui", Pagninus; "domino suo", Mercerus, Gejerus; "dominorum suorum", Michaelis. . As he only is to whom an understanding is given; for, whatever understanding men may have of natural and civil things, they have none of things spiritual and divine, unless it be given them by Christ. This is no other than the grace of the Spirit of God, who is a spirit of wisdom and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:23

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth ,.... That is, a man that is wise in heart, as in Proverbs 16:21 ; his heart will teach his mouth what to say, when to say it, and before whom; it will prompt him to matter, that he shall not be at a loss what to say, nor how to say; it will furnish him with words and things; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Matthew 12:34 ; and addeth learning to his lips : so that he does not deliver out mere words, but solid learning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb ,.... Jarchi interprets it of the words of the law; but it may be much better understood of the doctrines of the Gospel; such as the doctrines of God's everlasting love, eternal election, the covenant of grace, the person of Christ as God-man; of peace and reconciliation by his blood; of remission of sins through his atoning sacrifice; of justification by his righteousness; of life and salvation by his obedience, sufferings, and death; all the doctrines... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The same is said in Proverbs 14:12 , and is here repeated because of the excellence, importance, and usefulness of the observation, and to excite an attention to it; that men may be more diligent to look into their ways, and be more cautious where and how they walk, and be more considerate and thoughtful of the issue of them. See Gill on Proverbs 14:12 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:26

He that laboureth, laboureth for himself ,.... Man is born for labour; it is a part of the curse inflicted on him for sin; and his condition and circumstances are such as make it necessary, for such who will not work ought not to eat; and it is labouring for food and raiment which is here meant, and that is for a man's self; for if he labours to be rich and lay up money, and purchase estates, these are more for others than himself, and indeed he knows not for whom he labours. It is indeed in... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:26

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