Proverbs 16:10 (DBY)

Passage

An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:10 An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.

Proverbs 16:11 The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.

Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "oracle", "lips", "king", "mouth", and "judgment". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "oracle" and "lips", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "The heart of man deviseth his way..." into verse 11's "The just balance and scales are Jehovah's...", so "oracle" and "lips" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "oracle" and "lips" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.