The Bible — World English Bible

Proverbs 16

In brief

Proverbs 16 mixes short pieces of wisdom around three themes. It reminds us that people make plans but God directs their steps, and that we should commit our plans to him. It warns against pride, which goes before a fall, and praises humility, justice and wisdom, which are worth more than gold. It also speaks of words and power: lips that build up, the word that divides, the righteous king, and self-control that is better than strength. The chapter ends by recalling that every decision comes from Yahweh.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-9Making plans, committing your works to God, who directs your steps
  2. v. 10-15The king, justice and honest weights
  3. v. 16-24Wisdom is better than gold, pride goes before a fall
  4. v. 25-30Ways that seem right and words that divide
  5. v. 31-33Gray hair, self-control and the decision that comes from Yahweh

1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.

2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

3Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

4Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

7When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

9A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

10Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

11Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

12It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

14The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

15In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

20He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

26The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.

27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

28A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

30One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

Key verses

Verse 3
Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

To commit your deeds to Yahweh is to hand him your plans and your work before moving forward. The verse is not a guarantee of automatic success: it invites us to put our trust in God first rather than in our plans alone.

Verse 9
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

“A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.” Planning is good; the proverb simply says that the last word is not ours.

Verse 18
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

One of the best-known proverbs: “Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” The chapter comes back to the subject as early as verse 5 and pleads for humility in verse 19 and the verses that follow.

Verse 25
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” The proverb invites caution toward our own certainty and recalls that God's wisdom corrects what seems obvious to us.

Verse 32
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

Self-control is judged greater than military strength: the one who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. The proverb is about the inner battle more than about visible victories.

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What the sermons say

Pride: The Sin That Separates Us From God and From OthersJudit starts from Proverbs 16:33 to say that God governs time, then devotes her message to pride, with 16:5 and 16:18: refusing to let God be God in your life. She proposes humility as a daily decision.Read the summary →Seven Things God Hates: A Mirror for Your HeartJean Calvin Nana begins the seven things God hates with haughty eyes and quotes Proverbs 16:5: “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh”. He draws from it an examination of conscience, along with the promise of forgiveness in Christ.Read the summary →Redeem the Time: The Wisdom That Seizes Every OpportunityAlbert Koffi quotes Proverbs 16:9 against the refrain I have time: a person's heart plans his course, but God directs his steps. He concludes that we do not master time and that we must seize the opportunities God opens.Read the summary →Jesus at the Traitor's Feet: What Humility Really MeansMatt Marvane presents humility starting from the foot washing in John 13 and brings together Proverbs 16:5 and 16:18: a proud heart displeases God and pride goes before a fall. He invites us to serve rather than to try to become someone.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Proverbs 16

What does Proverbs 16:9 mean?

The verse says that a person makes plans, but that it is Yahweh who directs his steps. It does not forbid planning: it reminds us that God remains master of the future and can steer or correct the path. It is a call to plan with humility and to entrust your projects to God.

What does it mean that pride goes before a fall?

Proverbs 16:18 states that arrogance leads to ruin: whoever thinks he is safe from mistakes or above others exposes himself to a fall. The chapter repeats that God hates a proud heart and that it is better to be humble than to share the spoil with the proud.

What does “There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” mean?

Proverbs 16:25 warns that feeling you are right does not prove that you are. You can follow a path sincerely and be mistaken. The verse invites us to test our certainties against the Word of God, the advice of the wise and prayer.

What is the main message of Proverbs 16?

That wisdom begins with handing your plans to God, fleeing pride, valuing wisdom more than money and mastering your tongue and your anger. The chapter concludes that a person may cast the lot, but every decision comes from Yahweh.

Articles quoting Proverbs 16

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World English Bible translation — public domain.