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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:2

Note, 1. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves: All the ways of a man, all his designs, all his doings, are clean in his own eyes, and he sees nothing amiss in them, nothing for which to condemn himself, or which should make his projects prove otherwise than well; and therefore he is confident of success, and that the answer of the tongue shall be according to the expectations of the heart; but there is a great deal of pollution cleaving to our ways, which we are not aware of,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:3

Note, 1. It is a very desirable thing to have our thoughts established, and not tossed, and put into a hurry, by disquieting cares and fears,?to go on in an even steady course of honesty and piety, not disturbed, or put out of frame, by any event or change,?to be satisfied that all shall work for good and issue well at last, and therefore to be always easy and sedate. 2. The only way to have our thoughts established is to commit our works to the Lord. The great concerns of our souls must be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:1

The preparations of the heart in man ,.... The sense of these words, according to our version, depends upon the next clause, and the meaning of the whole is, that a man can neither think nor speak without God: the "orderings" or "marshallings of the heart" F1 מערכי לב "dispositiones sive ordinationes", Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis; "instructiones adversae aciei in corde", Schultens. , as it may be rendered; that is, of the thoughts of the heart, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:2

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes ,.... All right and well, not only some, but all, having a high opinion of himself; for this is to be understood of a self-righteous man, who is pure in his own eyes, though not cleansed from his filthiness, and so fancies every way he walks in, and everything he does, is pure; this is owing to want of knowledge of the impurity of his nature; was he sensible of this, he would see that his best righteousness is as filthy rags and to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord ,.... Natural, civil, or religious; seek to him for strength and assistance in all, and leave the success of all with him: or "roll thy works on" or "unto the Lord" F2 גל אל יהוה מעשיך "devolve in Jehovam facta tua", Junius & Tremellius; "negotia tua", Piscator; "volve in Dominum quae tibi facieuda sunt", Michaelis; "volve ad Jehovam opera tua", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius; so Mercerus, Gejerus, Schultens, Tigurine version. ; devolve all upon... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 16:1

The preparations of the heart in man - The Hebrew is לב מערכי לאדם leadam maarchey leb , which is, literally, "To man are the dispositions of the heart; but from the Lord is the answer of the tongue." Man proposes his wishes; but God answers as he thinks proper. The former is the free offspring of the heart of man; the latter, the free volition of God. Man may think as he pleases, and ask as he lists; but God will give, or not give, as he thinks proper. This I believe to be the meaning... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord - See that what thou doest is commanded; and then begin, continue, and end all in his name. And thy thoughts shall be established - these schemes or arrangements, though formed in the heart, are agreeable to the Divine will, and therefore shall be established. His thoughts - his meditations - are right; and he begins and ends his work in the Lord; and therefore all issues well. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 16:1

The Authorized Version makes one sentence of this verse without any contrast or antithesis. This is plainly wrong, there being intended a contrast between the thought of the heart and the well ordered speech. It is better translated, The plans of the heart are man ' s : but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. Men make plans, arrange speeches, muster arguments, in the mind; but to put these into proper, persuasive words is a gift of God. "Our sufficiency is of God" ( 2 Corinthians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 16:1

Man's thought and God's work Theology and philosophy have ever been confronted with the problem of the interrelation of the Divine and the human in life. If God is supreme, what room is there for man's will, thought, and individual personality? If man has freedom and power, how can God be the infinite Ruler and Disposer of all things? It may not be possible to reconcile the two positions. But it must be unwise to ignore either of them. If we cannot mark their confines, we can at least... read more

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