Proverbs 16

16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

When we prepare we honor God by good planning. When we plan well, we save time and money.  God bring our plans to fruition.  Our results are the answers to what we plan that was good. Planning and results of planning is God's idea.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Without God's Word, we live and think we are right.  We are not right.  God's Word is the light and if we ignore God's Word we live in darkness.

3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Find out what God wants you to do and do it and God will give you what you have committed to Him.

4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

God has a purpose for everything He made even a place for those who refuse to follow instructions.

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 hates pride: You can shake hands on the truth, God will not allow wrong to go unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

God forgives and it is by His mercy: when I study and do what God's Word say, men will walk away from wrongdoings.

7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Live right and God will have your back.

8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

If you do right with a little, it is better than doing wrong with a lot.

9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

A man who makes his own steps to do good without God will be led by God to get what he does not want.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

A king who leads like God is trustworthy.

.11 A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

God controls what is right:  everything has been judged by God before man was formed.

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Even if the king does wrong, it is hated by all:  God made power and it cannot be violated with comfort.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. 

Kings love those who tell truth.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

The king has the power to kill; but those who know how to get his attention rightly can make him change his mind.

15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

When a king is happy it is good.

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

Finding God is better than all money!

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Leave evil and live forever.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride then destructions, haughty behavior will make you fall.

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Be humble: resist the proud even if it seems he is richer.

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

Find God's way of handling your problem:  if you trust God you will love that you did.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 

People who are not hasty in decision making, he is a good man: anyone who speaks God's Word will speak good words and will learn more.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Having understanding is a huge source of life to him that has an understanding, but a fool's instruction is non-sense.

23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

The heart and mouth go hand and hand or work together, and learning is added to the person who listens to his heart.

24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones

The Word of God is pleasant and he will teach you what words to use at the right time and it will be sweet to the hearer and it will bring heath to the application of those who obey.

25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Without God, everything leads to death.

26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

Labor is good and it keeps you fed.

27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

A man with the wrong spirit constantly brings up things that cause strife:  his lips are waiting to start a fire.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

A man who deliberately causes confusion: and a person who speaks privately in public causes friends to be separated.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

A violent man does things to lure others into what he does and lead him into a deadly path.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

He concentrates on what it is he wants to carry out in a dishonorable way: his lips show he is desperately going to do the evil he thought of.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

The grey head is a blessing to have if it is earned by doing what is right.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

A person slow to anger is priceless.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

We create ways of choosing, but God makes the choices regardless of our votes.