Proverbs 16:19 (GNV)

Passage

Better it is to be of humble minde with the lowly, then to deuide the spoyles with the proude.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:17 The pathe of the righteous is to decline from euil, and hee keepeth his soule, that keepeth his way.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an high minde before the fall.

Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of humble minde with the lowly, then to deuide the spoyles with the proude.

Proverbs 16:20 He that is wise in his busines, shall finde good: and he that trusteth in the Lord, he is blessed.

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall bee called prudent: and the sweetenesse of the lippes shall increase doctrine.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "humble", "minde", "lowly", "deuide", "spoyles", and "proude". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "humble", 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 an high..." into verse 20's "He that is wise in his busines...", so "better" and "humble" 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 "humble" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.