Proverbs 16:1-33 The Heart & the Thoughts of Man

The Heart & the Thoughts of Man

Proverbs 16:1-33                                      Proverbs [in Smaller Chunks]

[Preparing] the heart [within] man, & the [answers] of the  tongue, [a.k.a. mouth, are] from the Lord. [Jeremiah 10:23-25 O Lord, I know that the way, [a.k.a. path,] of man, isn't [within] himself. It isn't [within] man, [who walks, a.k.a. follows,] to direct his [own] steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment, [a.k.a. justice,] & not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing. Pour out Your fury upon the heathen, [who don't] know You, & upon the families that [don't] call on Your Name: for they have eaten up, [a.k.a. devoured,] Jacob, [a.k.a. Israel,] & consumed him, & have made his habitation, [a.k.a. residence,] desolate.]

All the ways of a man are clean, [a.k.a. right,] in his own eyes, but the Lord [weighs, a.k.a. considers,] [a man's] spirit.] [Luke 16:15 And [Jesus] said to them, You are [those who] justify yourselves before men: but God [knows] your hearts: for [what] is highly [respected] among men is [an] abomination in the sight of God.]

Commit your works, [a.k.a. deeds,] to the Lord, & your thoughts shall be established. [1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, you younger [ones] submit yourselves to the elder [ones.] [Yes,] all of you subject, [a.k.a. yield your control to,] one to another, & be clothed with humility. For God [resists] the proud, & [gives] grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, [so] that He may exalt you in due time. [Cast] all your [cares] upon [the Lord God;] for He [cares] for you.]

The Lord has made all things for Himself: [yes] even the wicked for the day of evil. [Revelation 22:12-15 *And, [watch,] I come quickly; & My reward is with Me, & shall be to give [to] every man according to his work, [a.k.a. deeds.]

I am [the] Alpha & Omega, the Beginning & the End, the First & the Last. Blessed are [those who] do His commandments, [so] that they may have right to the Tree of Life, & may enter in through the gates into the city. For [outside] are: dogs, sorcerers, [sexual traffickers,] murderers, idolaters, & [whoever loves] & [makes] [up] [lies.]

Everyone [who has a] proud heart, [& thinks he’s better than others,] is an abomination to the Lord: [although] [he may] join hand & hand [with others,] he shall not [go] unpunished. [Isaiah 2:11-12 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, & the [arrogance] of men shall be bowed down. And the Lord Alone shall be exalted [on] that day. For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon everyone [who] is proud, & lofty, & upon everyone [who] is lifted up, [a.k.a. magnified,] & he shall be brought low.]

Iniquity is purged, [a.k.a. made free from sin,] by mercy & truth; & by the fear, [a.k.a. respect,] of the Lord, men depart from evil. [Proverbs 14:16 A wise man [fears, a.k.a. respects,] [the Lord God,] & [departs] from evil; but the fool [rages] [on,] & is confident.]

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He [makes] even [the man’s] enemies to be at peace with him.  [Romans 12:16-18 Be [in agreement] one toward another. [Don't get caught up in] things of high [status,] but [associate with] men of low [status.] [Don't] be wise in your own [conceit.] [Don't repay any] man evil for evil [done.] Provide honest things in the sight of all men. If [it's] possible, as much as you [are able,] live [peacefully] with all men.]

Better is a little with righteousness, than great [wealth] without right, [a.k.a. justice.] [Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man [has] is better than the riches of many wicked.]

A man’s heart [plans] his [path:] but the Lord [directs] his steps. [Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are [put in order,] by the Lord; & He [delights] in his [path. Although,] he [falls, a.k.a. stumbles,] he shall not be [totally] cast down: for the Lord [upholds, a.k.a. supports,] him with His hand.]

[On] the lips of the king is a divine sentence: his mouth [doesn’t sin] [against fair] judgment. [Proverbs 29:14 The king [who] faithfully [judges] the poor, his throne shall be established forever.]

A just, [a.k.a. honest,] weight & balance, [a.k.a. scale,] are the Lord’s: & all the weights of the bag are His work. [Leviticus 19:36 You shall have just balances,  just weights, a just ephah, & a just hin, [a.k.a. units of weight.] I Am the Lord your God, [Who] brought you out of the land of Egypt.]

It is an abomination to kings, to commit wickedness: [because] the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the [king’s] delight, & they love [those who speak] [what is] right. [Proverbs 25:5 Take away the wicked from [in front of] the king, & his throne shall be established in righteousness.]

The [anger] of the king is [like] messengers of death: but a wise man will [calm] it. In the light of the king’s [face] is life; & his [approval] is [like] [seeing] a rain cloud [in the spring.] [Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer [turns] away [fury:] but [harsh] words stir up anger. The tongue, [a.k.a. mouth,] of the wise [uses] knowledge [correctly:] but the mouth of fools [pour] out [what is] foolishness.]

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And [getting] understanding [is] to be chosen rather than silver! [Proverbs 8:10 Receive My instruction, & not silver, & [receive] knowledge rather than [the] [best] gold.]

To depart from evil is the highway of the [righteous:] & he [who keeps the Lord God’s ways [safeguards] his soul.

Pride goes before destruction, & an [arrogant] spirit before a fall. [It’s] better to [have] a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the [plunder] with the proud. [Psalm 12:3-5 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, & the tongue that [speaks] proud things. Who have said, We will prevail with our tongue, [a.k.a. mouth,] & our lips are our own. Who is Lord over us? The Lord [says,] I will now arise for the oppression of the poor, & for the sighing of the needy.]

He, [who handles] a matter wisely shall find good; & [whoever trusts] in the Lord is happy. [Those with a] wise heart shall be called: [cautious,] & learning [increases] [by] the sweetness of the lips, [a.k.a. speaking kindly.]

Understanding is a well-spring of life to him [who has] it: but the instruction of fools  is folly, [a.k.a. a lack of good judgment.] [John 4:13-14 Jesus answered & said to her, [Whoever drinks] of this water shall thirst again: but [whoever drinks] of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be [within] him a well of water, springing up into Everlasting Life.]

The heart of the wise [teaches] his mouth [what to say,] & [adds] learning to his lips. Pleasant words are [like a] honeycomb, sweet to the soul, & health to the bones.

There is a [path] that [seems] right to a man: but [its] end, are the [paths] [that lead to] death. He [who] labors [works] for himself; for his mouth craves it [from] him. [Ezekiel 33:11 The Lord God [says,] Say to them, As I Live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked [returns] from his [ways,] & [lives.] You, [return,] & turn [yourself] from your evil ways. For why will you die, O house of Israel?]

An ungodly man [digs] up evil; & in his lips, [a.k.a mouth,] is [like] a burning fire. [James 3:5-6 Even so, the tongue is a little member [of the body,] & [boasts of] great things. [See,] how [large] a [problem,] a little fire [kindles, a.k.a. ignites!] And the tongue is a fire, [that leads to a] world of [sinfulness.] The tongue [does] so among our [body's] members [so] it [defiles] the whole body, & [sets] the course of nature on fire. And it is set, [a.k.a. focused,] on [the fires] of hell.]

A [deceitful] man [sows, a.k.a. plants, discord;] & a [gossip separates best] friends. [Proverbs 17:9 He [who covers, a.k.a. hides,] a [sin seeks] love; but he [who repeats] a matter, [separates best] friends.]

A violent man [entices] his [neighbor,] & [leads] him into a [path] that isn’t good. [Winking] his [eye] to [plot deceitful] things ,& moving his lips, he [brings] evil to [take place.] [Psalm 58:3 The wicked are [distanced] from the womb. They go astray as soon as they [are] born, speaking lies.]

The [silver] head is a crown of glory, if [its] found [on someone] in the [path] of righteousness. [2 Timothy 4:8 [From now on] there is laid up for me, a crown of righteousness, [that] the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me [on] that day. And not only to me, but also to all [those who] love [Jesus Christ, at] His [appearance.]

He [who] is slow to anger is better than the mighty, & he [who rules, a.k.a. takes control of,] his spirit [is better] than he [who takes] [control of] a city. [Proverbs 14:29 He, [who] is slow to [anger, has] great understanding; but he [who has a ] hasty spirit, [exalts, a.k.a. magnifies,] folly, [a.k.a. lacking good judgment.]

The [impartial] lot is [thrown] into the lap: but the whole [decision] is [from] the Lord. [Colossians 3:24-25 [Know] that you shall receive the reward of the inheritance [from] the Lord: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he [who does] [what is:] wrong, shall receive [the consequence] for the wrong [that] he [has] done, & there is no respect, [a.k.a. partiality,] of persons.]