Proverbs 12

1 He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates rebuke [is] stupid.

2 The good obtains favor from Yahweh, but anyone who schemes, he condemns.

3 A person will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

4 A woman of strength [is] the crown of her master, but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

6 The words of the wicked [are] an ambush of blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and {are no more}, but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse {mind} will be despised.

9 It is better to be lowly and a servant {to someone} than self-glorifying and lacking food.

10 The righteous knows the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

11 He who works his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows worthless things lacks {sense}.

12 The wicked covets the proceeds of evil, but the root of the righteous {bears fruit}.

13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good, and the reward of {a man's labor} will return to him.

15 The way of a fool is upright in his [own] eyes, but he who listens to advice [is] wise.

16 As for a fool, {on that very day} he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult [is] prudent.

17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness, but the witness of falsehood, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19 A lip of truth endures forever, but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit [is] in the heart of {those who plan} evil, but to {those who plan} peace, [there is] joy.

21 {No evil will happen} to the righteous, but the wicked are filled [with] trouble.

22 An abomination of Yahweh are lips of deceit, but they who act faithfully [are] his delight.

23 A clever person conceals knowledge, but the heart of a fool announces folly.

24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule, but the lazy will belong to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in the heart of a man will weigh him down, but a good word will cheer him.

26 A righteous person will seek out his neighbor, but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.

27 The lazy will not roast his game, but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.

28 On the road of righteousness is life, and [on] the way of the path, [may there be] no death.

Proverbs 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Verse 1 Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes. Verse 2 . The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned. Verse 3 . Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are firmly fixed. Verse 4 . A wife who is pious, prudent, and looks well to the ways of her household, who makes conscience of her duty, and can bear crosses; such a one is an honour and comfort to her husband. She that is the reverse of this, preys upon him, and consumes him. Verse 5 . Thoughts are not free; they are under the Divine knowledge, therefore under the Divine command. It is a man's shame to act with deceit, with trick and design. Verse 6 . Wicked people speak mischief to their neighbours. A man may sometimes do a good work with one good word. Verse 7 . God's blessing is often continued to the families of godly men, while the wicked are overthrown. Verse 8 . The apostles showed wisdom by glorying in shame for the name of Christ. Verse 9 . He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries. Verse 10 . A godly man would not put even an animal to needless pain. But the wicked often speak of others as well used, when they would not endure like treatment for a single day. Verse 11 . It is men's wisdom to mind their business, and follow an honest calling. But it is folly to neglect business; and the grace of God teaches men to disdain nothing but sin. Verse 12 . When the ungodly see others prosper by sin, they wish they could act in the same way. But the root of Divine grace, in the heart of the righteous, produces other desires and purposes. Verse 13 . Many a man has paid dear in this world for the transgression of his lips. Verse 14 . When men use their tongues aright, to teach and comfort others, they enjoy acceptance through Christ Jesus; and the testimony of their conscience, that they in some measure answer the end of their being. Verse 15 . A fool, in the sense of Scripture, means a wicked man, one who acts contrary to the wisdom that is from above. His rule is, to do what is right in his own eyes. Verse 16 . A foolish man is soon angry, and is hasty in expressing it; he is ever in trouble and running into mischief. It is kindness to ourselves to make light of injuries and affronts, instead of making the worst of them. Verse 17 . It is good for all to dread and detest the sin of lying, and to be governed by honesty. Verse 18 . Whisperings and evil surmises, like a sword, separate those that have been dear to each other. The tongue of the wise is health, making all whole. Verse 19 . If truth be spoken, it will hold good; whoever may be disobliged, still it will keep its ground. Verse 20 . Deceit and falsehood bring terrors and perplexities. But those who consult the peace and happiness of others have joy in their own minds. Verse 21 . If men are sincerely righteous, the righteous God has engaged that no evil shall happen to them. But they that delight in mischief shall have enough of it. Verse 22 . Make conscience of truth, not only in words, but in actions. Verse 23 . Foolish men proclaim to all the folly and emptiness of their minds. Verse 24 . Those who will not take pains in an honest calling, living by tricks and dishonesty, are paltry and beggarly. Verse 25 . Care, fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, deprive men of vigour in what is to be done, or courage in what is to be borne. A good word from God, applied by faith, makes the heart glad. Verse 26 . The righteous is abundant; though not in this world's goods, yet in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, which are the true riches. Evil men vainly flatter themselves that their ways are not wrong. Verse 27 . The slothful man makes no good use of the advantages Providence puts in his way, and has no comfort in them. The substance of a diligent man, though not great, does good to him and his family. He sees that God gives it to him in answer to prayer. Verse 28 . The way of religion is a straight, plain way; it is the way of righteousness. There is not only life at the end, but life in the way; all true comfort.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "honor"
• [b]. Or "lord, owner"
• [c]. Hebrew "is"
• [d]. Literally "there is no them"
• [e]. Literally "heart"
• [f]. Literally "for him," "[belonging] to him"
• [g]. Or "soul," or "inner self"
• [h]. Hebrew "compassions"
• [i]. Literally "heart"
• [j]. Literally "gives, sets up"
• [k]. Literally "the hands of a man"
• [l]. Literally "on the day"
• [m]. Or "mind"
• [n]. Literally "the planners of"
• [o]. Literally "the planners of"
• [p]. Literally "All evil will not happen"
• [q]. Or "mind"
• [r]. Hebrew "fools"
• [s]. Or "mind"

Chapter Summary

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.