Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 16:4

"Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." — Proverbs 16:4 (ASV)

The Lord has made all things for himself— that is, to serve His own purposes, so that His wisdom, goodness, etc., may be revealed in that way.

Or the passage may be translated, “has made all for its own end or purpose.” The assertion that He has made the wicked for the day of evil, does not mean that He created anyone for punishment—that is, predestined him for destruction.

It only teaches that even the wicked are subservient to God’s eternal purposes. Pharaoh, for instance, by his rebellion could not change God’s plans for the deliverance of His people, but only gave Him an occasion for demonstrating His power, justice, goodness, and longsuffering.

The “day of evil,” that is, punishment, at last overtook Pharaoh in accordance with the law and purpose of God that the wicked, if unrepentant, shall be punished, and thus serve as a warning to others. But God, by His longsuffering, showed that He was “not willing” that he should “perish,” but rather that he “should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This also appears to be the teaching of Saint Paul in Romans 9:17 and the following verses.