Proverbs 16:2

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. ALL THE WAYS OF A MAN ARE CLEAN IN HIS OWN EYES ( ; ): BUT THE LORD WEIGHETH THE SPIRITS. He alone is the Judge whether a man's ways are as clean as the man himself thinks them (1 Corinthians 4:4). We are apt to be blind to our own faults, lynx-eyed to those of others. "The God of the spirits of all flesh" (; ) weighs in the exact balance of His judgment the inclinations, intentions, and abilities of men, so that many...

We are blind to our own faults, do not see ourselves as others see us. There is One who tries not the “ways” only, but the “spirits” Hebrews 4:12 : this is the true remedy against self-deceit....

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

ALL THE WAYS OF A MAN [ARE] CLEAN IN HIS OWN EYES,.... All right and well, not only some, but all, having a high opinion of himself; for this is to be understood of a self-righteous man, who is pure in his own eyes, though not cleansed from his filthiness, and so fancies every way he walks in, and everything he does, is pure; this is owing to want of knowledge of the impurity of his nature; was he sensible of this, he would see that his best righteousness is as filthy rags and to his ignorance of the spirituality of the law, which, was he acquainted with, he would find, on comparing himself with it, that he and all he did was polluted and unclean: some read the words, "all the ways of a pure man [are] before his eyes": the eyes of the Lord, he sees them, and approves of them; so Aben Ezra; and to this agrees the Septuagint version, "all the works of an humble man [are] manifest with God...

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

MAN. Hebrew. _'ish_. App-14. CLEAN. pure OWN EYES. Compare Proverbs 12:15 Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 21:2. Conscience is no safe guide, for it depends on what. man _believes._ Illustrations: Hazael (2 Kings 8:13); Jehu (2 Kings 10:16;...

See Proverbs 21:2, where this proverb recurs almost in the same words. Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:4....

DISCOURSE: 791 MAN’S ESTIMATE OF HIMSELF AND GOD’S CONTRASTED Proverbs 16:2. _All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the Lord weigheth the spirits_. AMONGST the purest joys of a Christian is “the testimony of a good conscience;” and all the labour that can possibly be bestowed on the attainment of it will be well repaid by the acquisition. But we must not forget, that man is a fallen creature, and that his mind and conscience partake of the defilement which sin has brought upon all the faculties of his soul [Note: Titus 1:15.]. Hence it is necessary to try even the verdict of conscience itself, and not to trust too implicitly to its representations. To “put evil for good, and good for evil; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter; darkness for light, and light for darkness;” is,

CHAPTER 16 TEXT Proverbs 16:1-11 1. The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits. 3. Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established. 4. Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: 6. By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. 7. When a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8. Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice. 9. A man's heart deviseth his way; B