Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 16:20–21

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

10 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 20

  1. Jeremiah 17:7–8Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

    8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

  2. Psalms 2:12Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

  3. Isaiah 26:3–4Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

    4Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

  4. Isaiah 30:18Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    18¶ And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

  5. Psalms 34:8Rank 5 from verse 20
    Open

    8O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

From verse 21

  1. Proverbs 16:23–24Rank 1 from verse 21
    Open

    23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

    24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

  2. Isaiah 50:4Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    4The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

  3. Proverbs 15:7Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

  4. Proverbs 27:9Rank 4 from verse 21
    Open

    9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

  5. James 3:17Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 16:20

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 16:21

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

called

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of call. Sense 1: To name. Sense 2: To summon or invite. Sense 3: To proclaim or address. Sense 4: To request.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

prudent

↗

Wise, discerning, thoughtful, circumspect, and careful in judgment or conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616

COMBINED MEANING

lips

↗

Sense 1: The physical borders of the mouth. Sense 2: By extension, speech or utterance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

learning

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of learn, meaning to gain knowledge, receive instruction, or come to know.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

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

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

Selected passage

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Selected passage

22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.