What does Proverbs Chapter 16 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 16 says man prepares soul and Lord governs tongue. A separate edition note explains preparing speech with grace, no good thought without grace and no successful speaking without Lord’s tongue governance. It stays commentary rather than a universal account of every enterprise. Man’s ways are open to his eyes, Lord weighs spirits. Open works to Lord and thoughts shall direct; He made things for Himself, wicked also for evil day. Proud man is abominable and hand joining does not make innocent; justice begins good way and is more acceptable than sacrifices. Mercy and truth redeem iniquity, Lord’s fear departs evil. When ways please Him He will turn enemies to peace. Little justice better than unjust revenues; heart disposes way, Lord must direct steps.

Divination is in king’s lips and mouth shall not err in judgment. Weight and balance are Lord’s judgments and bag weights His work. Wicked actors abominable to king, throne established by justice; just lips delight kings, right speaker shall be loved. Wrath is death messengers, wise will pacify; cheerful countenance life and clemency latter rain. Wisdom exceeds gold, prudence silver; just path departs evil, soul keeper keeps way. Pride precedes destruction, lifted spirit fall; humble with meek better than proud spoils. Learned word finds good, God-truster blessed. Wise heart shall be called prudent, sweet words attain greater things. Knowledge is life fountain, fools’ instruction foolishness; wise heart shall instruct mouth and add lip grace; ordered words honeycomb, soul sweetness and bone health.

Seemingly right way ends deathward. Laborer soul works for self because mouth obliged. Wicked digs evil, lips burning fire; perversity stirs quarrels, wordiness separates princes. Unjust entices friend to bad way; fixed-eye plotting and bitten lips bring evil. Just old age dignity’s crown. Patient better than valiant, spirit-ruler than city-taker. Lap-cast lots are Lord-disposed. Princes are not replaced by close friends, latter rain not spring rain, and sayings do not establish a new legitimate-versus-tyrant rule.

The story inside

Opening: Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution. Development: Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation. Conclusion: Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Opening sayings preserve their words and attribution.
2
Images and reported speech remain distinct from added interpretation.
3
Future and conditional assertions retain their scope in the closing sayings.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 68564–68570
It is the part of man, etc.... That is, a man should prepare in his heart and soul what he is to say: but after all, it must be the Lord that must govern his tongue, to speak to the purpose. Not that we can think any thing of good without God’s grace; but that after we have (with God’s grace) thought and prepared within our souls what we would speak, if God does not govern our tongue, we shall not succeed in what we speak.
Lines 68622–68623
16:18. Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
Lines 68664–68668
his spirit, than he that taketh cities. 16:33. Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.