Proverbs 22:21 (DRB)

Passage

That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 22:19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.

Proverbs 22:20 Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:

Proverbs 22:21 That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

Proverbs 22:22 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

Proverbs 22:23 Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "might", "shew", "thee", "certainty", "words", "truth", "answer", and "sent". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "might" and "shew", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Behold I have described it to thee..." into verse 22's "Do no violence to the poor because...", so "might" and "shew" 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 "might" and "shew" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.