Pride, Power, and the Path Forward — Proverbs

Chapter 16 contains thirty-three couplets with a heavier concentration of theological claims than most chapters in the collection, the LORD's involvement in human affairs is stated directly and repeatedly.

The chapter opens on this note: the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits. The LORD has made all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil. Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. A man's heart devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is from the LORD. These statements accumulate into a coherent claim: human planning is real, but divine sovereignty runs underneath it.

Among the most quoted individual couplets: pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, one of the most cited lines in all of Proverbs. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold, and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. He that rules his spirit is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit better than he who takes a city, self-mastery exceeds military conquest.

On kings and authority: the wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it. In the light of the king's countenance is life; his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.

On character and speech: by mercy and truth iniquity is purged. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. An ungodly man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. A froward man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. A violent man entices his neighbour into a way that is not good. There is a way that seems right to a man, repeated here from chapter 14, but the end of it is the ways of death.

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