Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)

Passage

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "pride", "goeth", "before", "destruction", "haughty", and "fall". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "pride", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "The highway of the upright is to..." into verse 19's "Better it is to be of an...", so "Spirit" and "pride" 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 "Spirit" and "pride" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.