Proverbs 18:12

12 Before being broken, the heart of man is haughty, and before coming into honour, comes being brought to humility.

Proverbs 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:12

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty
Lifted up with his riches. Rich men are apt to be highminded, and therefore are to be charged and cautioned against it; they are apt to look above their poor neighbours, and with contempt upon them; and very often this haughtiness of theirs is a presage of their ruin and destruction: and those haughty airs are put on from the pride of their hearts, when a "breach" is near, as the word F21 signifies, or when they are ready to break; however, their haughty spirits are, sooner or later, humbled by one distressing providence or another; see ( Proverbs 16:18 ) ; and before honour [is] humility; (See Gill on Proverbs 15:33).


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (rbv ynpl) "ante confractionem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens.

Proverbs 18:12 In-Context

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous shall run into it, and be raised up.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city and as a high wall in his imagination.
12 Before being broken, the heart of man is haughty, and before coming into honour, comes being brought to humility.
13 For him that answers a word before he hears, it is folly and reproach unto him.
14 The spirit of man will bear his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010