Proverbs 16:21 (DRB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

Proverbs 16:22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "wise", "heart", "shall", "prudent", "sweet", and "words". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "wise", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "The learned in word shall find good..." into verse 22's "Knowledge is a fountain of life to...", so "called" and "wise" 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 "called" and "wise" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.