Proverbs 22:12

12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises words.

Proverbs 22:12 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:12

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge
That is, the providence of God, whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth; these preserve the knowledge of himself, even among the Heathens in some measure; for what may be known of God is manifest in them, and showed to them: more particularly his providence has preserved the Scriptures, the means of knowledge, which men would have destroyed; and preserves men of knowledge, as Aben Ezra interprets it, the ministers of the word, the stars he holds in his right hand; and he preserves spiritual and experimental knowledge in the hearts of his people, and causes it to increase; and continues his Gospel and a Gospel ministry in the world, till they all come to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God. Or his eyes observe, look unto with delight and pleasure, knowledge and men of knowledge, that know him, and do his will; and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor;
the perfidious, treacherous man; the false teacher, that corrupts the word of God, and handles it deceitfully: the doctrines of such he overthrows, and confutes, and brings to nothing, by his Spirit in his faithful ministers; and causes truth to prevail, and all iniquity to stop its mouth: particularly the words and doctrines of the great transgressor, the lawless and wicked one, the man of sin, antichrist; these have been exposed and overthrown already, and will be more and more so in God's due time.

Proverbs 22:12 In-Context

10 Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises words.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.