PRIDE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

Passage: Proverbs 16:10-33

Key verse: 18

NIV

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.(A)

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(B)

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(C)

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.(D)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(E)
    but the wise will appease it.(F)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(G)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(H)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(I) rather than silver!(J)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(K)

18 Pride(L) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit(M) before a fall.(N)

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](O)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(P)

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b](Q)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(R)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(S)
    and their lips promote instruction.[c](T)

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(U)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(V)

25 There is a way that appears to be right,(W)
    but in the end it leads to death.(X)

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel(Y) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(Z)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(AA)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(AB)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(AC)

30 Whoever winks(AD) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(AE)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast(AF) into the lap,
    but its every decision(AG) is from the Lord.(AH)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

10 (A)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 (B)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for (C)the throne is established by righteousness.
13 (D)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 (E)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will (F)appease it.
15 (G)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his (H)favor is like (I)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (J)How much better to get wisdom than (K)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (L)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (M)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (N)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (O)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to (P)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[a] (Q)will discover good,
    and blessed is he (R)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech (S)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (T)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (U)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (V)Gracious words are like (W)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and (X)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.[b]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his (Y)mouth urges him on.
27 (Z)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech[c] is like (AA)a scorching fire.
28 (AB)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and (AC)a whisperer (AD)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (AE)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[d] (AF)dishonest things;
    he who (AG)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (AH)Gray hair is (AI)a crown of glory;
    it (AJ)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (AK)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (AL)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is (AM)from the Lord.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
  2. Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
  3. Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
  4. Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Verses 10-15 teach us about just and upright kings. Their mouths do not betray justice (10). They detest wrongdoing and take pleasure in honest lips (11,12a). The throne of a good king is established in righteousness (12b). A king may have power over life and death (14b,15). We need wisdom to deal with those in power (14a). Let us pray for kings and rulers so that we may lead peaceful lives and be able to freely share the gospel (1 Ti 2:1-4).

The next set of Proverbs contrasts the value of wisdom and the dangers of pride. Wisdom is more valuable than gold. The wise are those who heed instruction. Such people prosper and are blessed (20). Wisdom or prudence is a fountain of life (23). Wise and gracious words are sweet to the soul and promote healing (24). However, pride is the greatest barrier to growing in wisdom from God. Pride rejects instruction. The fruit of pride is seen in a scoundrel (27), the perverse (28), the violent (29), and those who use deceit to plan evil (30). Proud and even haughty people may seem to get ahead in the world. But pride ultimately leads to destruction (18), and even death (25). Watch out for pride! Ask God daily for a humble heart that responds to his word.

Prayer: Father, please forgive my pride that insists on its own way. Thank you for your word, which grows me in wisdom. Please also help our rulers to honor you and govern with wisdom.

One Word: A haughty spirit before a fall