Proverbs 16:1 (GNV)

Passage

The preparations of the heart are in man: but the answere of the tongue is of the Lord.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart are in man: but the answere of the tongue is of the Lord.

Proverbs 16:2 All the wayes of a man are cleane in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the spirits.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy workes vnto the Lord, and thy thoughts shalbe directed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "preparations", "heart", "answere", "tongue", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "preparations" and "heart", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "All the wayes of a man are...", so "preparations" and "heart" should be read forward into that movement. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

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