Proverbs 16
Dec. 11th, 2008 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chochiyo_sama1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
I am not sure what this means. The heart's preparations and the answers the tongue makes come from the Lord, is what it says. What does it mean? Don't know.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
This verse is easier. A person always thinks that what HE does is okay. Other people are the ones that are "dirty" or wrong. At least it's human nature to think that way. God, however, is able to weigh (judge/evaluate) the spirit of a person and see whether he/she really is pure of heart.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
I think this means that if you pledge to work in the way that God would have you work, then he will "establish" your thoughts. Establish means "to cause to be recognized and accepted." It also means "to introduce and put into force." So if everything you do is committed to the glory of God, he will make sure your works are blessed and put into force.
4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everthing that exists, exists for God's purposes. Even the wicked have a purpose. I don't know wha "for the day of evil" means. I seriously doubt God made people evil to be amused by their destruction at some point.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
God loathes the "proud in heart." To me, "proud in heart" means arrogance. Arrogance means "offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride." I don't know what is meant by "though hand join in hand," but I do understand that the act of being "proud in heart" will inevitably be punished for their actions.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Mercy is compassion and forbearance shown toward someone in one's power. It purges (cleans out) iniquity (wickedness). Truth likewises purges iniquity. By fearing (respecting) the Lord, men learn to depart from evil ways.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When a person's behavior makes God happy, God makes it so the person's enemies become peaceful towards him--leave him alone, don't hassle or harrass him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
It is more preferrable to have a little bit of material goods or money and be righteous (upright, moral) than having tons of money but being wrong.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
The heart, which represents the true nature and desires of a person, is what causes a person to go in a certain direction, but God guides his path.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
I don't know about this. "A divine sentence" could be a godly judgement from the king. The king doesn't sin when he passes down judgement. (Don't know if I believe this is true--it SHOULD be true... but I have seen no indication that kings or presidents worry over much about being righteous. They want what they want, is what I have observed.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Back in the day, things were sold by weight. God favors the person who is fair in his weights--not the person who has a scale that "weighs" to his advantage.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
It is loathsome for a king to do wicked deeds, primarily because the king has a responsibility to all the people under his authority. God wants the King to uphold what is good and take care of his people.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Kings love (or SHOULD love) righteousness--moral uprightness. Kings should love people who speak truthfully and wisely to them.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
If the king is mad at you, you could be doomed. However, a wise man knows how to make peace with an angry king.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
When the king is happy with you, your life is good--being a favorite of the king is like a good rain--it will nourish and reward you.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Wisdom is better than gold and understanding is better than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
An upright person departs from evil as if he were running down a high way. Staying away from evil keeps the upright man's soul safe.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride--the bad kind (a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.)--leads to being destroyed. A "haughty spirit" will lead to taking a fall from grace.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humble in spirit (not proud or arrogant) and be companions with other humble people than it is to hang out with arrogant jerks, dividing "spoil" amongst other arrogant jerks. Spoil is basically ill-gotten gain.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
It is good to deal wisely with incidents. Trusting in the Lord will make you happy.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Wise people, truly wise from the center of their being, are called "prudent," which means "careful in providing for the future; provident." I don't really know what is meant by "sweetness of the lips"--but it makes you learn more. Perhaps it means that if you speak in a kind and sweet way to people, they will be more willing to share their wisdom and knowledge with you. It could be.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Having understanding will bring life to the person who has it. But listening to fools is stupid. It will only bring misery and badness.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
If your heart is pure and righteous, it will lead to you being able to speak wisely. The righteous heart will help you seek useful and good knowledge and spread it to others.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Pleasant words (kind, sweet, compassionate, enjoyable words) are good for the soul--they bring health to the body. (Stress and unpleasantness are unhealthy for the body.)
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
A person may think a certain behavior or action is correct, but truly, these actions will lead to nothing good.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
A man who works works for himself. I suppose his mouth craves the food he earns by working. (Not sure about that)
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
An evil person roots around unti he finds something nasty--his lips burn with the desire to do malicious things.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
The deliberately willful, contrary person loves to spread misery and unhappiness and conflict. He/she likes to whisper malicious gossip to one person, then another, to destroy their trust in each other and make both of them miserable.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
A violent, evil man tempts his neighbor, leading him into bad behaviors.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
The person who "shuts his eyes" (closes his mind to truth and righteousness, maybe?) in order to plot out ways to be willfully disobedient usually causes evil to happen via his mouth full of lies and slanders and half-truths.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
A "hoary head" is a headful of white or gray hair. This means that the person is elderly--an elderly person's white hair can be a crown of glory if he has been living a righteous life.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
It is better to be a person who doesn't fly off the handle than it is to be strong and powerful. It is better to be able to control yourself than it is to conquer a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
I am confused by this last verse. I know a lot is something that comes by chance--like in a lottery. Perhaps when they cast lots in the olden days, they dropped them into their laps. Ultimately, God dispenses "chance" and "luck," so God is ultimately in control of fate in general.
