Proverbs 16:20

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) He that handleth a matter wisely.—Or, perhaps, he that attendeth to the word of God. (Comp. Proverbs 13:13.)

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 16:20-21. He that handleth a matter wisely, &c. — “He that understands his business thoroughly, and manages it prudently and discreetly, is likely to have good success; but no one is so happy, no one is so sure of prospering in his designs, as he that confides more in God than in his own skill and industry.” The wise in heart, &c. — “He whose mind is well furnished with wisdom, cannot but obtain a great reputation, and be highly esteemed for his prudent counsels and resolutions: but if he have the powerful charms of eloquence to convey his mind delightfully unto others, it will add a greater value to his wisdom, and make it more diffusive and instructive unto the world.” — Bishop Patrick.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:12. The ruler that uses his power aright, will find that to be his best security. 13. Put those in power who know how to speak to the purpose. 14,15. Those are fools, who, to obtain the favour of an earthly prince, throw themselves out of God's favour. 16. There is joy and satisfaction of spirit, only in getting wisdom. 17. A sincerely religious man keeps at a distance from every appearance of evil. Happy is the man that walks in Christ, and is led by the Spirit of Christ. 18. When men defy God's judgments, and think themselves far from them, it is a sign they are at the door. Let us not fear the pride of others, but fear pride in ourselves. 19. Humility, though it exposes to contempt in the world, is much better than high-spiritedness, which makes God an enemy. He that understands God's word shall find good. 21. The man whose wisdom dwells in his heart, will be found more truly prudent than many who possess shining talents. 22. As waters to a thirsty land, so is a wise man to his friends and neighbours. 23. The wise man's self-knowledge, always suggests something proper to be spoken to others. 24. The word of God cures the diseases that weaken our souls. 25. This is caution to all, to take heed of deceiving themselves as to their souls. 26. We must labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life, or we must perish.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Good as it is to "handle a matter wisely," it is far better to "trust in the Lord." The former is really impossible except through the latter.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. handleth a matter—wisely considers "the word," that is, of God (compare Pr 13:13).

trusteth—(Compare Ps 2:12; 118:8, 9).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He that handleth a matter wisely; he who orders his affairs with discretion. Or, as others, both ancient and later interpreters, take it, he that understandeth or attendeth to the word, to wit, the word of God, which is called absolutely the word, Proverbs 13:13, and elsewhere, making that the rule of his actions.

Shall find good; shall obtain happy success.

Who so trusteth in the Lord; who doth not trust to his prudence or diligence, but to God’s providence and blessings. Or, who mixeth God’s word with faith, as the phrase is, Hebrews 4:2.

Happy is he; he shall not only find some good, but shall certainly attain to true happiness.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good,.... That frames and composes his discourse well on any subject he takes in hand; or manages his affairs prudently and discreetly, in which he is concerned; or that wisely attends to the affair of humility, as Aben Ezra: or rather to the word, that is, to the word of God; is not a careless, negligent, unconcerned hearer of the word, but a diligent and attentive one; whose heart is opened by the Spirit of God to attend to what is spoken in it; who lays it up in his heart, and makes it the rule of his conduct in life: such a man finds good things; things which are for his profit, edification, and instruction; good truths, good doctrines, good counsel and advice, good directions and instructions; promises of good things, things for his present comfort and future happiness;

and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he; not to his own wisdom; nor in his own strength; nor in his riches, nor righteousness; nor in the favour of men, no, not of princes; but in the Lord, and in his Word; he shall want no good thing, he is kept in perfect peace; he is in the utmost safety, is like Mount Zion, that can never be removed, Jeremiah 17:7.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. He that handleth a matter wisely] This rendering is relegated to the margin in R.V., and instead of it he that giveth heed unto the word is adopted in the text, with a reference to Proverbs 13:13 (see note there), in support of it. The word will then mean the word of God. The A.V. however gives a very good sense, if we understand the second clause of the verse as intimating how a matter is to be handled wisely, cp. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - He that handleth a matter wisely. Dabar, translated "matter," is better rendered "word," as in Proverbs 13:13, with which passage the present is in contrast. Thus Revised Version, he that giveth heed unto the word. Shall find good; Vulgate, eruditus in verbo reperiet bona. The "Word" is the Law of God; he who attends to this shall prosper. The rendering of the Authorized Version is supported by the Septuagint, "The man prudent in affairs is a finder of good things;" he attends to his business, and thinks out the best mode of accomplishing his plans, and therefore succeeds in a worldly sense (comp. Proverbs 17:20). Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he; or, hail to him, as in Proverbs 14:21. To heed the Word and to trust in the Lord are correlative things; handling a matter wisely can hardly belong to the same category. The Septuagint contrasts the worldly success of one who manages business wisely and discreetly with the blessedness of him who, when he has done all, commits his cause to God and trusts wholly to him: "He who hath trusted in the Lord is blessed (μακαριστός)." Proverbs 16:20

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

20 He that giveth heed to the word will find prosperity;

     And he that trusteth in Jahve, blessed is he!

The "word" here is the word κατ ̓ ἐξ., the divine word, for משׂכּיל על־דּבר is the contrast of בּז לדבר, Proverbs 13:13, cf. Nehemiah 8:13. טוב is meant, as in Proverbs 17:20, cf. Proverbs 13:21, Psalm 23:6; to give heed to God's word is the way to true prosperity. But at last all depends on this, that one stand in personal fellowship with God by means of faith, which here, as at Proverbs 28:25; Proverbs 29:25, is designated after its specific mark as fiducia. The Mashal conclusion אשׁריו occurs, besides here, only at Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 29:18.