Proverbs 16:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

PROVERBS CHAPTER 16 Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well of themselves, or without Divine assistance. Or, as many others, both ancient and modern interpreters, render the verse, The preparations, or dispositions, or orderings of the heart are in or from a man; (i.e. a man may consider and contrive in his own thoughts what he wills or designs to speak; which is spoken by way of concession, yet not excluding man's dependence upon God therein, which is evident both from many plain texts of Scripture, and from undeniable reason;) but the answer or speech (as this word is oft used) of the tongue is from the Lord. Men cannot express their own thoughts without God's leave and help, and their tongues are oft overruled by God to speak what was besides and above their own thoughts, as he did Balaam, Num 23, and Caiaphas, 1 Thessalonians 11:49-51.