Proverbs 16:19 (DRB)

Passage

It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:17 The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

Proverbs 16:20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "humbled", "meek", "than", "divide", "spoils", and "proud". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "humbled", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "Pride goeth before destruction and the spirit..." into verse 20's "The learned in word shall find good...", so "better" and "humbled" 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 "better" and "humbled" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.