Single lesson
Proverbs 16: The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD
Proverbs 16:1–33
Proverbs 16 gathers short wisdom sayings that compare pride and humility, crooked speech and pleasant words, human plans and trust in Yahweh. In this lesson, children will trace the chapter’s main ideas and practise explaining how wise words and wise choices fit together.
Before you teach
This chapter is a sequence of proverbs about plans, motives, kings, fairness, pride, speech, work, friendship, self-control and Yahweh’s rule. Rather than telling one story, it places many brief sayings side by side so readers can compare examples and hear a repeated wisdom pattern through the whole chapter.
Students will be able to identify at least three examples in Proverbs 16 that show wise people trust Yahweh, reject pride and use words carefully.
Welcome: hear the chapter’s big idea
5 minTell the group that Proverbs 16 is wisdom writing made of short sayings. Read verses 1, 3 and 9 aloud. Ask children to listen for what people do and what Yahweh does. Note that people plan and commit deeds, while Yahweh gives the answer and directs steps.
Proverbs 16:1, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 16:9
Read and explain: plans, motives and humility
7 minRead verses 1-9. Explain simple terms: “motives” are the reasons inside us, “commit” means entrust, and “righteousness” means what is right. Show the contrast between what seems clean in our own eyes and Yahweh weighing motives. Point out that pride is condemned, while mercy, truth and fearing Yahweh are linked with turning from evil.
Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 16:8, Proverbs 16:9
Discuss: truthful lips, wise words and harmful speech
7 minRead selected verses about speech from the middle and later parts of the chapter. Compare “righteous lips”, “pleasantness of the lips” and “pleasant words” with speech that is like “a scorching fire” or separates close friends. Help children notice that Proverbs 16 treats words as powerful. Wise hearts guide mouths, while twisted speech damages others.
Proverbs 16:13, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 16:23, Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 16:27, Proverbs 16:28
Make and respond: reminder card for one key verse
6 minLet each child choose one key verse from the chapter, especially one about pride, self-control, wise speech or trust in Yahweh. They make a small reminder card with the verse reference, a few important words, and a drawing of what the proverb teaches, such as a mouth, a path, scales or a calm face. Invite a few children to explain why they chose it.
Proverbs 16:11, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 16:32, Proverbs 16:33
Closing: compare the voices in the chapter
5 minFinish by naming different examples in the chapter: the proud person, the upright person, the wise person, the whisperer, the violent person and the king. Ask children which examples are linked with peace, life or righteousness, and which are linked with strife, evil or a fall. End by restating that the chapter shows Yahweh’s rule over plans and outcomes alongside repeated teaching about speech and conduct.
Proverbs 16:1, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 16:12, Proverbs 16:17, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 16:22, Proverbs 16:23, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 16:29, Proverbs 16:33
Questions to explore
In verses 1, 3 and 9, what do people do, and what does Yahweh do?
Look carefully for the paired actions: people plan and commit their deeds, while Yahweh gives the answer and directs steps.
Proverbs 16:1, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 16:9
Which sayings in this chapter show that words can help people, and which show that words can hurt people?
Compare the good pictures of truthful and pleasant speech with the warnings about scorching speech and whispering that separates friends.
Proverbs 16:13, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 16:27, Proverbs 16:28
How does Proverbs 16 compare pride with self-control and humility?
Notice that pride comes before destruction, while a lowly spirit and being slow to anger are praised as better ways.
Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 16:19, Proverbs 16:32
Make, think or respond
Key Verse Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- Bible text written out or read aloud
- scissors if desired
Try it together
- Read several key verses from Proverbs 16 and let each child choose one.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card size.
- Write the verse reference and copy a few important words from the chosen proverb.
- Add a simple drawing that matches the proverb, such as scales, a path, a mouth, a crown or a calm face.
- Share the card with the group and explain how the verse fits the chapter’s wisdom teaching.
This activity helps children focus on one proverb while seeing how it connects to the chapter’s repeated themes of wise speech, humility, righteousness and trust in Yahweh.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three verse choices only and let them draw the meaning after hearing the verse read aloud several times.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to group their chosen verse with another similar proverb in the chapter and explain the connection.
An optional closing prayer
“Yahweh, please help us to listen to your wisdom, turn from pride, and use words that are truthful, gentle and helpful. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.
3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.
4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.