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Proverbs 12

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The Path to Stability and Divine Favor 1–3

1
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. ​
2
A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. ​
3
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. ​

Integrity of Character and the Home 4–7

4
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. ​
5
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Wisdom in Work and Reputation 8–14

8
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. ​
9
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. ​
10
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. ​
11
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12
The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. ​
13
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. ​
14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

The Power of Truth and Prudence 15–23

15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. ​
16
A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. ​
19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. ​
23
A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Diligence, Anxiety, and the Way of Life 24–28

24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. ​
25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. ​
26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Proverbs 12

Verse 1

hateth reproof is brutish — Ba'ar, brutish, is the stupidity of cattle; the verse sets the learner against the beast that must be 'held in with bit and bridle' (Ps 32:9). 'Instruction' is musar, discipline. A scorner who is reproved may 'hate thee'; a wise man 'will love thee' (Prov 9:8).

Verse 2

obtaineth favour of the LORD — Ratson is delight, acceptance; the verb puq means to secure or furnish. The line repeats 'whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD' (Prov 8:35). 'Wicked devices' is mezimmah, a plan; the kindred word zimmah is in Isa 32:7, 'he deviseth wicked devices'.

Verse 3

the root of the righteous — Sheresh, root, is set against 'established' (kun, to set upright): wickedness gives no footing. The root image returns in v.12. Compare 'the righteous is an everlasting foundation' (Prov 10:25) and 'Rooted and built up in him' (Col 2:7).

Verse 4

A virtuous woman — Chayil is strength, valour, worth; the same description opens Prov 31:10, 'Who can find a virtuous woman?' She is an atarah, a crown. The shaming wife is raqab, 'rottenness' in the bones, the word of Prov 14:30, 'envy the rottenness of the bones'.

Verse 8

according to his wisdom — Sekel is insight, prudent understanding; the Hebrew idiom is literally 'by the mouth of' it, that is, in proportion to it. 'Perverse' is avah, to make crooked. Lasting commendation comes from God: 'not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth' (2 Cor 10:18).

Verse 9

despised, and hath a servant — Qalah, lightly esteemed, is set against kabad, to honour or make weighty, here reflexive: the man who gives himself importance yet 'lacketh bread'. The same contrast stands in Prov 13:7, 'There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing.'

Verse 10

regardeth the life of his beast — Yada, to know: the righteous knows the nephesh, the living soul, of his animal. The law already guarded the working ox: 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn' (Deut 25:4). The wicked's rachamim, tender mercies, are akzari, cruel.

Verse 12

the net of evil men — Matsod is a hunter's net; Ps 10:9 pictures the wicked who 'doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net'. The wicked desires the snare of evil men; the righteous has a root that bears. Christ gives the same image: 'He that abideth in me… bringeth forth much fruit' (John 15:5).

Verse 13

snared by the transgression of his lips — Moqesh is a noose or trap, and pesha a rebellion, a wilful sin. The same snare appears in 'Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth' (Prov 6:2). The just 'come out' of tsarah, tightness, trouble: 'The righteous is delivered out of trouble' (Prov 11:8).

Verse 15

right in his own eyes — Evil is the fool who is perverse, and 'right' is yashar, straight. The verse is the sentence of 'There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death' (Prov 14:12). The wise 'hearkeneth' (shama, hears to obey) to etsah, counsel.

Verse 18

the piercings of a sword — Madqarah is a thrust, a wound; the speaker blurts (bata) rashly. Ps 57:4 has men 'whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword'. The wise tongue is marpe, cure or healing, like 'Pleasant words… health to the bones' (Prov 16:24).

Verse 22

abomination to the LORD — To'evah is what God abhors; a 'lying tongue' is among the six things he hates (Prov 6:16–17). 'Delight' is ratson, the word rendered 'favour' in v.2. 'Deal truly' is emunah, faithfulness, as 'upright in their way are his delight' (Prov 11:20).

Verse 24

the slothful shall be under tribute — Mas is a levy of forced labour. 'Diligent' is charuts, one cut or sharp, decisive. Jeroboam shows the first half: 'Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge' (1 Kings 11:28). 'Slothful' (remiyyah) also means deceit.

Verse 25

Heaviness in the heart — De'agah is anxiety, care. 'Stoop' is shachah, to bow down. The remedy is a 'good word', as in 'a word in season to him that is weary' (Isa 50:4); the other side is 'by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken' (Prov 15:13).

Verse 28

no death — Orach (way) and nathiv (pathway) are the beaten track of a life of tsedaqah, righteousness; 'life' and 'death' are set as the two ends. It restates 'As righteousness tendeth to life' (Prov 11:19); Paul says grace reigns 'through righteousness unto eternal life' (Rom 5:21).