Proverbs 16:21 (GNV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

Proverbs 16:22 Vnderstading is welspring of life vnto them that haue it: and the instruction of fooles is folly.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise guideth his mouth wisely, and addeth doctrine to his lippes.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "wise", "heart", "shall", "prudent", "sweetenesse", and "lippes". 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 "He that is wise in his busines..." into verse 22's "Vnderstading is welspring of life vnto them...", 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.