24 Pleasant H5278 words H561 are as an honeycomb, H6688 H1706 sweet H4966 to the soul, H5315 and health H4832 to the bones. H6106
My son, H1121 eat H398 thou honey, H1706 because it is good; H2896 and the honeycomb, H5317 which is sweet H4966 to thy taste: H2441 So shall the knowledge H3045 of wisdom H2451 be unto thy soul: H5315 when thou hast found H4672 it, then there shall be H3426 a reward, H319 and thy expectation H8615 shall not be cut off. H3772
For they are life H2416 unto those that find H4672 them, and health H4832 to all their flesh. H1320
There is H3426 that speaketh H981 like the piercings H4094 of a sword: H2719 but the tongue H3956 of the wise H2450 is health. H4832
My doctrine H3948 shall drop H6201 as the rain, H4306 my speech H565 shall distil H5140 as the dew, H2919 as the small rain H8164 upon the tender herb, H1877 and as the showers H7241 upon the grass: H6212
Thy lips, H8193 O my spouse, H3618 drop H5197 as the honeycomb: H5317 honey H1706 and milk H2461 are under thy tongue; H3956 and the smell H7381 of thy garments H8008 is like the smell H7381 of Lebanon. H3844
Thy words H1697 were found, H4672 and I did eat H398 them; and thy word H1697 was unto me the joy H8342 and rejoicing H8057 of mine heart: H3824 for I am called H7121 by thy name, H8034 O LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts. H6635
Then G3767 the same G1565 day G2250 at evening, G3798 being G5607 the first G3391 day of the week, G4521 when G2532 the doors G2374 were shut G2808 where G3699 the disciples G3101 were G2258 assembled G4863 for G1223 fear G5401 of the Jews, G2453 came G2064 Jesus G2424 and G2532 stood G2476 in G1519 the midst, G3319 and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Peace G1515 be unto you. G5213 And G2532 when he had G2036 so G5124 said, G2036 he shewed G1166 unto them G846 his hands G5495 and G2532 his G846 side. G4125 Then G3767 were G5463 the disciples G3101 glad, G5463 when they saw G1492 the Lord. G2962 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 to them G846 again, G3825 Peace G1515 be unto you: G5213 as G2531 my Father G3962 hath sent G649 me, G3165 even so G2504 send G3992 I G2504 you. G5209
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 16
Commentary on Proverbs 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
Pro 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 the issue and success of what he designed to do, is of the Lord. That is, in short,
Pro 16:2
Note,
Pro 16:3
Note,
Pro 16:4
Note,
Pro 16:5
Note,
Pro 16:6
See here,
Pro 16:7
Note,
Pro 16:8
Here,
Pro 16:9
Man is here represented to us,
Pro 16:10
We wish this were always true as a proposition, and we ought to make it our prayer for kings, and all in authority, that a divine sentence may be in their lips, both in giving orders, that they may do that in wisdom, and in giving sentence, that they may do that in equity, both which are included in judgment, and that in neither their mouth may transgress, 1 Tim. 2:1. But it is often otherwise; and therefore,
Pro 16:11
Note,
Pro 16:12
Here is,
Pro 16:13
Here is a further character of good kings, that they love and delight in those that speak right.
Pro 16:14-15
These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which maintains the prerogative of the prince without any injury to the liberty of the subject. But here it is intimated,
Pro 16:16
Solomon here not only asserts that it is better to get wisdom than gold (ch. 3:14, 8:19), but he speaks it with assurance, that it is much better, better beyond expression-with admiration (How much better!) as one amazed at the disproportion-with an appeal to men's consciences ("Judge in yourselves how much better it is')-and with an addition to the same purport, that understanding is rather to be chosen than silver and all the treasures of kings and their favourites. Note,
Pro 16:17
Note,
Pro 16:18
Note,
Pro 16:19
This is a paradox which the children of this world cannot understand and will not subscribe to, that it is better to be poor and humble than to be rich and proud.
Pro 16:20
Note,
Pro 16:21
Note,
Pro 16:22
Note,
Pro 16:23
Solomon had commended eloquence, or the sweetness of the lips (v. 21), and seemed to prefer it before wisdom; but here he corrects himself, as it were, and shows that unless there be a good treasure within to support the eloquence it is worth little. Wisdom in the heart is the main matter.
Pro 16:24
The pleasant words here commended must be those which the heart of the wise teaches, and adds learning to (v. 23), words of seasonable advice, instruction, and comfort, words taken from God's word, for that is it which Solomon had learned from his father to account sweeter than honey and the honey-comb, Ps. 19:10. These words, to those that know how to relish them,
Pro 16:25
This we had before (ch. 14:12), but here it is repeated, as that which is very necessary to be thought of,
Pro 16:26
This is designed to engage us to diligence, and quicken us, what our hand finds to do, to do it with all our might, both in our worldly business and in the work of religion; for in the original it is, The soul that labours labours for itself. It is heart-work which is here intended, the labour of the soul, which is here recommended to us,
Pro 16:27-28
There are those that are not only vicious themselves, but spiteful and mischievous to others, and they are the worst of men; two sorts of such are here described:-
Pro 16:29-30
Here is another sort of evil men described to us, that we may neither do like them, nor have any thing to do with them.
Pro 16:31
Note,
Pro 16:32
This recommends the grace of meekness to us, which will well become us all, particularly the hoary head, v. 31. Observe,
Pro 16:33
Note,