Proverbs 12:5-15

5 ¹The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

6 The words of the wicked ²lie in wait for blood, but ³the mouth of the upright delivers them.

7 ⁴The wicked are ⁵overthrown and are no more, ⁶but the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is ⁷despised.

9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

10 ⁸Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11 ⁹Whoever works his land ¹⁰will have plenty of bread, ¹¹but he who follows ¹²worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12 Whoever is wicked covets ¹³the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13 An evil man is ensnared ¹⁴by the transgression of his lips, ¹⁵but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 From the fruit of his mouth ¹⁶a man is satisfied with good, ¹⁷and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

15 ¹⁸The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:5-15 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.

Cross References

• 1. 12:5 [Matt. 12:35]
• 2. 12:6 See ch. 1:11
• 3. 12:6 ch. 14:3
• 4. 12:7 See ch. 11:21
• 5. 12:7 Job 34:25
• 6. 12:7 [ch. 10:25, 30]
• 7. 12:8 [1 Sam. 20:30]
• 8. 12:10 [Deut. 25:4]
• 9. 12:11 ch. 28:19
• 10. 12:11 ch. 20:13
• 11. 12:11 ch. 28:19
• 12. 12:11 Judg. 9:4
• 13. 12:12 [Ps. 10:9]
• 14. 12:13 ch. 18:7; [Ps. 64:8; Matt. 12:37]
• 15. 12:13 ch. 21:23
• 16. 12:14 ch. 13:2; 14:14; 18:20
• 17. 12:14 ch. 19:17; Isa. 3:10, 11; [Judg. 9:16, 56]
• 18. 12:15 ch. 3:7; 16:2; 21:2; 26:12; [ch. 14:12; 16:25]