Proverbs 12:5-15

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.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "is"
• [b]. Literally "there is no them"
• [c]. Literally "heart"
• [d]. Literally "for him," "[belonging] to him"
• [e]. Or "soul," or "inner self"
• [f]. Hebrew "compassions"
• [g]. Literally "heart"
• [h]. Literally "gives, sets up"
• [i]. Literally "the hands of a man"