"Understanding" (good sense) is a source of life for a wise person, but "folly" is a source of discipline for a fool. Thus a person’s wisdom or lack of it determines his or her prospects in life. Proverbs has little that is positive to say about a fool."It is highly unlikely that Solomon would accept the idea that all men are created equal and thus deserve education at government expense." [Note: Alden, p. 129.] read more
1-9. God’s control of human life.1. Read, ’the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.’ Man prepares his plans, but the decisive, final word is suggested by God. ’There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, roughhew them as we will.’2. Cp. 1 Corinthians 4:4.4. Read, ’The Lord hath made everything for its own end.’ God is the absolute Sovereign (Amos 3:6). The wicked are created for punishment (Exodus 9:16; Ezekiel 38:16; Ezekiel 39:21; Romans 9:17).... read more
(22) The instruction of fools is folly.- While understanding is “a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11) giving health and refreshment and vigour both to the possessor and his friends, the discipline given by fools is worse than useless, being folly itself. Or it may mean, “the discipline which fools have to endure is folly.” If they will not be taught by wisdom, their own folly will serve as a rod to correct them. read more
CHAPTER 17A JUST BALANCE"A just balance and scales are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are His work."- Proverbs 16:11"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight."- Proverbs 11:1"Diverse weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."- Proverbs 20:10"Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord; and a false balance is not good."- Proverbs 20:23THE sixteenth chapter opens-and we may annex to it the last verse of... read more
CHAPTER 16 In the Light of the Lord The name Jehovah (LORD) appears eleven times in this chapter of Proverbs. The Lord has the final word, for to man belong the preparations (or plans) of the heart; but from the LORD is the answer of the tongue. It is the same thought as in our English proverb--“Man proposes--God disposes.” Man loves to justify himself, his ways are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits; He is the judge of ways and motives. Our works are to be committed... read more
16:22 Understanding [is] a wellspring of life to him that hath it: but the {l} instruction of fools [is] folly.(l) Either that which the wicked teach others, or else it is folly to teach them who are malicious. read more
In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more
The Answer of the Tongue, Etc. Proverbs 16:0 Here is a doctrine of inspiration which descends to the most practical line of life. This doctrine deals with the individual man, as well as collective humanity. Whenever the preparations of the heart are good that is, wise, prudent, purged of selfishness, and generous with the love of God, we find nothing less than a miracle of the Holy Ghost Naturally, the heart is deceitful above all things; it requires, therefore, great preparation, that is,... read more
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. The wrath... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 16:1-33
1. Trusting God ch. 16In this chapter, there is also a slight change in the form of the proverbs. Solomon expressed the earlier proverbs (chs. 10-15) mainly in antithetical parallelisms, but the proverbs in this section are mainly synonymous and synthetic parallelisms. Instead of the key word being "but" it now becomes "and." read more