Proverbs 12:8-18

8 A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is ¹despised.

9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

10 ²Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11 ³Whoever works his land ⁴will have plenty of bread, ⁵but he who follows ⁶worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12 Whoever is wicked covets ⁷the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13 An evil man is ensnared ⁸by the transgression of his lips, ⁹but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 From the fruit of his mouth ¹⁰a man is satisfied with good, ¹¹and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

15 ¹²The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

16 ¹³The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

17 ¹⁴Whoever speaks^[a] the truth gives honest evidence, but ¹⁵a false witness utters deceit.

18 ¹⁶There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings ¹⁷healing.

Proverbs 12:8-18 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. [1 Samuel 20:30]
• 2. [Deuteronomy 25:4]
• 3. Proverbs 28:19
• 4. Proverbs 20:13
• 5. Proverbs 28:19
• 6. Judges 9:4
• 7. [Psalms 10:9]
• 8. Proverbs 18:7; [Psalms 64:8; Matthew 12:37]
• 9. Proverbs 21:23
• 10. Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 14:14; Proverbs 18:20
• 11. Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 3:10, 11; [Judges 9:16, 56]
• 12. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 26:12; [Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25]
• 13. [Proverbs 14:33; Proverbs 29:11]
• 14. Proverbs 14:5
• 15. See Proverbs 6:19
• 16. See Psalms 57:4
• 17. See Proverbs 4:22

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew breathes out