YHWH Is Concerned About Injustice Whether At The Hands Of The King Or Of Men (Proverbs 16:8-12).
In this subsection men are urged to act justly and rightly in their business dealings, and kings are urged to act justly in their dealings with their people. In both cases we are assured that both men and kings are subject to His control. Proverbs 16:8 provides an important reminder that whilst those who follow wisdom are guaranteed future wellbeing, it does not necessarily come at once. There can be a time when the righteous only have ‘a little'. And in the same way, although the unrighteous will in the end lose their wealth, it does not necessarily happen quickly. For a time the unrighteous can be seen to prosper, and the righteous to have little.
The subsection is presented chiastically as follows:
A Better is a little, with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice (Proverbs 16:8).
B A man's heart devises his way, but YHWH directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).
B A divine sentence is in the lips of the king, his mouth will not transgress in judgment (Proverbs 16:10).
A A just balance and scales are YHWH's, all the weights of the bag are his work (Proverbs 16:11).
Note that in A just dealings are more important than gaining great wealth, whilst in the parallel just weights and balances have YHWH's approval. Centrally in B YHWH directs men in their steps, and in the parallel He direct kings in exercising judgment.
‘Better is a little, with righteousness,
Than great revenues with injustice.'
The point here is that just dealings are all important to YHWH. It is better to only gain a little while acting justly, than to gain great wealth by unjust means. And that can only be because such an attitude pleases YHWH, and it is more important to be acceptable in God's eyes than it is to be wealthy. One reason that it is better is that YHWH will watch over the one who is pleasing to Him (compare Proverbs 16:7), whilst another is that he will also enjoy a good conscience and be able to sleep at nights, and have the confidence that no one is out to get him because of his behaviour. In contrast the unjust man is under the wrath of God, and must constantly watch his back.
‘A man's heart devises his way,
But (and) YHWH directs his step.'
This may be seen in two ways. Firstly (translating as ‘and') as indicating that the righteous man devises his way looking to YHWH to direct each step. Or secondly (translating as ‘but') as indicating that whatever a man schemes to do, His ways are in the end in the hands of YHWH. Both are true and are reminder that in life, whether we want Him to be or not, YHWH is in overall control of our lives.
In the light of the context it is probably the first which is mainly in view, for the context is about men pondering their ways. Men are to ponder their business dealings, kings are to ponder the ways in which they act in judgment, and if they look to Him YHWH will direct their steps. On the other hand, the use of ‘man's' in general may point to the second, for what is said elsewhere makes quite clear that YHWH does not assist the unrighteous.
‘A divine sentence (or divine wisdom) is in the lips of the king,
His mouth will not transgress in judgment.'
In Proverbs 8:15-16 Wisdom assured us that, ‘by me kings reign, and princes decree justice, by me governors rule and nobles, even all the judges of the earth'. That is now turned into the expressed hope that a king, when acting as ‘a judge of the earth', will do so recognising his responsibility before God. For that is why he has been made king. What is described as being in the mouth of the king is ‘divination', the ability to speak as from a divine source. God's wisdom will guide him (Proverbs 8:15).
Thus a king is to recognise that when pronouncing justice he is doing so in God's Name, that ‘the powers that be are ordained of God' (Romans 13:1), and if he does so recognise it he will be scrupulously fair and ensure that justice is done. He will not transgress in judgment, because YHWH will direct his steps (Proverbs 16:9).
This is not, of course, saying that whatever decision a king comes to will automatically have divine approval. That will depend very much on his motive. It is rather saying that when he seeks to judge rightly he will have divine assistance. God will give him wisdom. Indeed the way in which he should judge is explained in Deuteronomy 17:18-20. It is only in that light that he can make this supreme claim to have the mind of God.
Solomon himself had good cause to think like this. YHWH had promised him wisdom above the ordinary in his dealings (1 Kings 3:11-12). It is questionable if a later writer could have spoken with such confidence in view of some of the kings who followed Solomon. It would, however, one day be true of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-4).
This is the third reference to the king in the proverbs of Solomon (compare Proverbs 14:28; Proverbs 14:35) and it will be noted in each case that such a reference has always come in the context of a prominent mention of YHWH. The king's authority is always seen in the light of YHWH's authority (something made plain in this proverb).
A just balance and scales are YHWH's,
All the weights of the bag are his work.'
The subsection closes with the thought that, whether used by kings or businessmen, the accurate balance and scales which ensure fair dealings are the only ones that have YHWH's approval. They alone are His, and acknowledged by Him. Indeed, the very weights which the businessman keeps in a bag are His work if they are accurate and reliable. And if they are not then He repudiates them. They come under His disapproval. We can compare here Proverbs 11:1 where we read, ‘a false balance is an abomination to YHWH, but a just weight is His delight'. Among other things this is a vivid way of saying that God is with a king or businessman in his endeavours when he deals honestly, but rejects him when he does not. It is also an important indication of the emphasis that God puts on honest dealings.
Just scales, balances and weights were, of course, a requirement of the Torah, where they were also associated with true justice. ‘You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measuring stick, in weight or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just hin shall you have' (Leviticus 19:35-36; compare Deuteronomy 25:13-15; Micah 6:11). Whilst the idea of men being weighed in terms of justice is found in Job 31:6; Isaiah 26:7; Daniel 5:27.