Proverbs 16:1

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. THE PREPARATIONS [LITERALLY, THE ORDERLY DISPOSINGS, AS THOSE OF AN ARMY IN ARRAY; OR AS THE LOAVES OF THE SHOWBREAD SET IN ORDER. LEVITICUS 24:6-3 : FROM `aarak (H6186 ), TO DISPOSE] OF THE HEART IN MAN, AND THE ANSWER OF THE TONGUE (IS) FROM THE LORD. The balance of the parallel opposite clauses requires rather the translation, "The preparations" or 'disposings of the heart (are) in (or belonging to lª-) man; but the answer of the (praying) tongue (is) from the Lord.' Man may lay out his plans, but God alone can give them effect, in answer to the tongue of prayer ...

CHAPTER XVI _Man prepares, but God governs. God has made all things for_ _himself; he hates pride. The judgments of God. The_ _administration of kings; their justice, anger, and clemency._ _God has made all in weight, measure, and due proportion._ _Necessity produces industry. The patient man. The lot is under_ _the direction of the Lord._ NOTES ON CHAP. XVI Verse Proverbs 16:1. _THE PREPARATIONS OF THE HEART IN MAN_] The Hebrew is לאדם מערכי לב _leadam maarchey leb_, which is, literally, "To man are the dispositions of the heart; but from the Lor

The proverbs in Proverbs 16:1 have, more than any other group, an especially religious character impressed upon them. The name of Yahweh as Giver, Guide, Ruler, or Judge, meets us in each of them. Proverbs 16:1 Better, The plans of the heart belong to man, but the utterance of the tongue is from Yahweh. Thoughts come and go, as it were, spontaneously; but true, well ordered speech is the gift of God. Compare Proverbs 16:9....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 16:1 These are specially religions maxims, and they all contain the name Jehovah. PROVERBS 16:1 The Authorized Version makes one sentence of this verse without any contrast or antithesis. This is plainly wrong, there being intended a contrast between the thought of the heart and the well ordered speech. It is better translated, _The plans of the heart are man_'_s_:_ but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. _Men make plans, arrange speeches, muster arguments, in the mind; but to put these into proper, persuasive words is a gift of God. "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). In the case of

THE PREPARATIONS OF THE HEART IN MAN,.... The sense of these words, according to our version, depends upon the next clause, and the meaning of the whole is, that a man can neither think nor speak without God: the "orderings" or "marshallings of the heart" a, as it may be rendered; that is, of the thoughts of the heart, which are generally irregular and confused; the ranging them in order, as an army in battle array, or as things regularly placed on a well furnished table; the fixing them on any particular subject, though about things civil and natural, so as closely to attend to them, and proceed in a regular manner in the consideration of them, are not without the concurrence of divine Providence: and whereas the thoughts of men's hearts are evil, and that continually, and nothing but evil thoughts naturally proceed from thence; the ordering and marshalling of them, and fixing them to t...

CHAPTER 16 IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD The name Jehovah (LORD) appears eleven times in this chapter of Proverbs. The Lord has the final word, for to man belong the preparations (or plans) of the heart; but from the LORD is the answer of the tongue. It is the same thought as in our English proverb--“Man proposes--God disposes.” Man loves to justify himself, his ways are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits; He is the judge of ways and motives. Our works are to be committed (literal: rolled upon) unto the LORD, then establishment and blessing will follow. It is strange that these three verses were omitted in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The LORD hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil Proverbs 16:4. Much error has been taught in connection with this verse. Some have taught that God made some wicked. It is not said

PROVERBS 16. The special feature is a group of aphorisms (Proverbs 16:10) relating to kings. The sentiments seem rather to reflect the picture of the ideal king than to indicate any particular period. The metaphors employed and the character depicted suggest a parallel with the ideal king of Psalms 72. PROVERBS 16:4. The lit. rendering of Proverbs 16:4 a is Yahweh has made every work for its answer_ i.e._ the nexus of cause and effect seen in the moral government of the world is His work, a kind of prearranged harmony. The supreme instance is the case of the wicked, their answer is the day of evil. We have an assertion of the righteousness of Yahweh's government rather than of their predestinati

PREPARATIONS. arrangements or plans. The Ellipsis (App-6) of the verb in the first clause must be supplied (as it is in the second clause): "To man [pertain] the plans of his heart; but from Jehovah [comes] the final decree. "Compare Proverbs 16:9. May be well rendered "the last word" (Compare Proverbs 16:4). See App-74. Illustrations: Balaam (Numbers 23:11; Numbers 23:12; Numbers 24:10.Joshua 24:9;...

_The preparations_&c. Rather: TO MAN BELONG THE PREPARATIONS (or PLANS) OF THE HEART; BUT FROM JEHOVAH IS THE ANSWER OF THE TONGUE. This cannot mean that wise thoughts are human, but wise words divine, that man unaided can plan well, but only by God's help can speak well; but rather that after man has done his utmost in planning, his wisest plans may come to nought in the comparatively easy act of giving utterance to them with a view to their accomplishment, unless Jehovah guides his tongue. And the implied moral of the proverb is, If you cannot do the less without God, do not attempt to do the greater without Him; "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths," Proverbs 3:5-6. Comp. Proverbs 16:9 of this chapter....

THE PREPARATIONS OF THE HEART, &C.— Houbigant renders it, _It is in man to prepare discourse within himself; it is in the Lord to moderate or rule the tongue._ Bishop Patrick says, the Hebrew words run plainly thus; _Man hath the disposing of the heart:_ He may, with God's leave and common assistance, intend, propound, resolve within himself, what he will say and do; but that he shall be able to utter things in that order he hath premeditated, or, if he be able, shall attain the end of his deliberation and eloquent speech, is more than he can undertake; _for that is as the Lord pleaseth._ God, therefore, would have us to acknowledge this our weakness, and to fear and depend upon him; as it follows, Proverbs 16:3....