Proverbs 12:7-17

7 (Over)Turn thou wicked men, and they shall not be; but the houses of just men shall dwell perfectly. (Overturn thou, or bring thou down, the wicked, and they shall not be; but the families of the righteous shall continue.)

8 A man shall be known by his teaching; but he that is vain and heartless, shall be open to despising.

9 Better is a poor man, and sufficient (un)to himself, than (to be) a (self-)glorious man, and needy of bread.

10 A just man knoweth the lives of his work beasts; but the entrails of wicked men be cruel. (A righteous person careth for the lives of his work beasts; but the hearts of the wicked be cruel.)

11 He that worketh his land, shall be filled with loaves; but he that followeth idleness, is most fool(ish). He that is sweet, that is mild, liveth in temperances; and in his admonishings he forsaketh despisings (He who is humble, liveth temperately; and he forsaketh despisings in all of his admonishings).

12 The desire of a wicked man is the memorial of worst things; but the root of just men shall increase. (The desires of the wicked be a memorial of the worst things; but the roots of the righteous shall increase, or shall go deeper.)

13 For the sins of (his) lips, falling down nigheth to an evil man; but a just man shall escape from anguish (but the righteous shall escape from anguish).

14 Of the fruit of his mouth each man shall be [ful]filled with goods (A person shall be fulfilled with good things by the fruit of his mouth); and by the works of his hands it shall be yielded to him.

15 The way of a fool is rightful in his eyes; but he that is wise, heareth counsels (but he who is wise, listeneth to good advice).

16 A fool showeth anon his ire; but he that dissembleth wrongs, is wise. (A fool showeth his anger at once; but he who overlooketh wrongs, is wise.)

17 He that speaketh that, that he knoweth, is a judge of rightfulness; but he that lieth, is a guileful witness. (He who speaketh what he knoweth, is a just judge/is a judge of righteousness; but he who lieth, is a deceitful witness.)

Proverbs 12:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KING 2

This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1Ki 2:1-4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1Ki 2:5-9; and the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his reign, 1Ki 2:10,11; after which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah, which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1Ki 2:12-25; and the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1Ki 2:26,27; and the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1Ki 2:28-34; in whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1Ki 2:35; and lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1Ki 2:36-38; who upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1Ki 2:39-46.