UNROLL
Close and low on a walker’s sandaled feet on a stony hill path, just where it bends away from the way he seemed to be heading.

Solomon’s sayings

Proverbs 16

You made your plans for this week. So did God.

33 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–7The father's talksWhy the book exists, then a father to his son
  2. 8–9Wisdom callsHer house and Folly's
  3. 10–22:16Solomon's sayingsTwo lines at a timeChapter 16
  4. 22:17–24The sayings of the wiseThirty sayings, and a few more
  5. 25–29Hezekiah's collectionMore of Solomon, copied out later
  6. 30AgurNumbered sayings from a weary man
  7. 31LemuelA mother's words, and the noble wife

The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD

Sayings

The LORD’s rule

  1. The LORD

    Plans and the reply

    The plans of the heart belong to man,

    but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

  2. Motives weighed

    All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,

    but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

  3. Commit your works

    Commit your works to the LORD

    and your plans will be achieved.

  4. Everything for His purpose

    The LORD has made everything for His purpose—

    even the wicked for the day of disaster.

  5. Pride

    Proud in heart

    Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;

    be assured that he will not go unpunished.

  6. The LORD

    Sin atoned for

    By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

    and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

  7. Enemies at peace

    When a man’s ways please the LORD,

    He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

  8. Justice

    A little with righteousness

    Better a little with righteousness

    than great gain with injustice.

  9. The LORD

    Plans and steps

    A man’s heart plans his course,

    but the LORD determines his steps.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for

Two weathered farmers sitting on a low boundary wall between their fields, sharing a loaf at midday.

A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Reflect

Take it home

What plan are you holding tightest right now? Write it down, and hand it to the LORD.

How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!

To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

The highway of the upright leads away from evil;

he who guards his way protects his life.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Sayings

Heart and mouth

  1. The LORD

    Heeding and trusting

    Whoever heeds instruction will find success,

    and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

  2. Words

    Pleasant speech

    The wise in heart are called discerning,

    and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

  3. Wisdom

    A fountain of life

    Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,

    but the discipline of fools is folly.

  4. Words

    The heart teaches the mouth

    The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth

    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

A piece of wild honeycomb on a plain clay dish, dripping, a hand breaking it in soft window light.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

0:05

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Question

Quick question

Back to the opening run of sayings.

“A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” What does verse 9 hold together?

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way of death.

Sayings

Fire and whispers

  1. Work

    Hunger drives him on

    A worker’s appetite works for him

    because his hunger drives him onward.

  2. Words

    Speech like fire

    A worthless man digs up evil,

    and his speech is like a scorching fire.

  3. A gossip divides

    A perverse man spreads dissension,

    and a gossip divides close friends.

  4. Temptation

    Led down a bad path

    A violent man entices his neighbor

    and leads him down a path that is not good.

  5. Words

    A wink and pursed lips

    He who winks his eye devises perversity;

    he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is attained along the path of righteousness.

He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,

and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.

Pray

Say it to Him

LORD, I can’t see the end of my own road, and I don’t need to. Nothing falls by chance with You. I give You my plans again today. Order my steps, and keep me humble in them.

You’ve experienced

Proverbs 16

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A verse to carry with you

A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

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