Proverbs 12:11-21

11 ¹Whoever works his land ²will have plenty of bread, ³but he who follows ⁴worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12 Whoever is wicked covets ⁵the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13 An evil man is ensnared ⁶by the transgression of his lips, ⁷but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 From the fruit of his mouth ⁸a man is satisfied with good, ⁹and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

15 ¹⁰The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

16 ¹¹The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

17 ¹²Whoever speaks^[a] the truth gives honest evidence, but ¹³a false witness utters deceit.

18 ¹⁴There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings ¹⁵healing.

19 Truthful lips endure forever, but ¹⁶a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of ¹⁷those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

21 ¹⁸No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

Proverbs 12:11-21 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. Proverbs 28:19
• 2. Proverbs 20:13
• 3. Proverbs 28:19
• 4. Judges 9:4
• 5. [Psalms 10:9]
• 6. Proverbs 18:7; [Psalms 64:8; Matthew 12:37]
• 7. Proverbs 21:23
• 8. Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 14:14; Proverbs 18:20
• 9. Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 3:10, 11; [Judges 9:16, 56]
• 10. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 26:12; [Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25]
• 11. [Proverbs 14:33; Proverbs 29:11]
• 12. Proverbs 14:5
• 13. See Proverbs 6:19
• 14. See Psalms 57:4
• 15. See Proverbs 4:22
• 16. Proverbs 19:9; [Psalms 52:4, 5]
• 17. Proverbs 3:29
• 18. Psalms 91:10; [1 Peter 3:13; 2 Peter 2:9]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew breathes out