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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Proverbs 12 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/proverbs/12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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while “he that hateth reproof,” who will not take advice, is “brutish,” “nourishing a blind life within the brain,” like the animals who are incapable of improvement.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-2.htm">Proverbs 12:2</a></div><div class="verse">A good <i>man</i> obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">A good man.</span>—The corresponding phrase, “a man of wicked devices,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>who plots against his neighbour, fixes the sense of “good” as signifying “benevolent” (comp. <a href="/psalms/73-1.htm" title="Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.">Psalm 73:1</a>); and for the sentiment, <a href="/luke/6-35.htm" title="But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.">Luke 6:35</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-4.htm">Proverbs 12:4</a></div><div class="verse">A virtuous woman <i>is</i> a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed <i>is</i> as rottenness in his bones.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">A virtuous woman.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">of power, i.e., </span>of ability and character, like the wife described in Proverbs 31, or the “able” men of <a href="/exodus/18-21.htm" title="Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:">Exodus 18:21</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-5.htm">Proverbs 12:5</a></div><div class="verse">The thoughts of the righteous <i>are</i> right: <i>but</i> the counsels of the wicked <i>are</i> deceit.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">The thoughts of the righteous are right.—</span>Or, <span class= "ital">justice. </span>(Comp. <a href="/matthew/12-35.htm" title="A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.">Matthew 12:35</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-6.htm">Proverbs 12:6</a></div><div class="verse">The words of the wicked <i>are</i> to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.</div>(6) <span class= "bld">The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>are calculated for this end.<p><span class= "bld">The mouth of the upright shall deliver them</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>those for whom the wicked lie in wait.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-7.htm">Proverbs 12:7</a></div><div class="verse">The wicked are overthrown, and <i>are</i> not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.</div>(7) <span class= "bld">The wicked are overthrown.</span>—By the righteous judgments of God (<a href="/context/psalms/37-35.htm" title="I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.">Psalm 37:35-36</a>), or by the storms of temptation and trouble, which, when they come, overwhelm the house built on the sand of earthly hopes, and not on the “Rock of ages.” (<a href="/isaiah/26-4.htm" title="Trust you in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:">Isaiah 26:4</a>; <a href="/matthew/7-24.htm" title="Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house on a rock:">Matthew 7:24</a>, <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-8.htm">Proverbs 12:8</a></div><div class="verse">A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">According to his wisdom</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>intelligent observance of the ends to be pursued in life, and the best means of attaining to them; in other words, finding out the will of God and how to fulfil it.<p><span class= "bld">Shall be despised.—</span>Comp. <a href="/1_samuel/2-30.htm" title="Why the LORD God of Israel said, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD said, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.">1Samuel 2:30</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-9.htm">Proverbs 12:9</a></div><div class="verse"><i>He that is</i> despised, and hath a servant, <i>is</i> better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.</div>(9) <span class= "bld">He that is despised.</span>—That is, lowly in his eyes and those of others, as David (<a href="/1_samuel/18-23.htm" title="And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?">1Samuel 18:23</a>); if “he hath a servant,” that is, if he be in easy circumstances. It has been remarked that “the first necessity of an Oriental in only moderate circumstances is a slave.”<p><span class= "bld">He that honoureth himself.</span>—Boasts of his pedigree, it may be, and is all the while starving.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-10.htm">Proverbs 12:10</a></div><div class="verse">A righteous <i>man</i> regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked <i>are</i> cruel.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">Regardeth the life of his beast.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">knows their feelings </span>(comp. <a href="/exodus/23-9.htm" title="Also you shall not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt.">Exodus 23:9</a>), and so can feel for them. God’s own care for the brute creation (<a href="/jonah/4-11.htm" title="And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?">Jonah 4:11</a>) was shown in the merciful provisions of the Law, by which cattle shared the rest of the Sabbath, and had their portion of the corn as it was being trodden out (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-4.htm" title="You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn.">Deuteronomy 25:4</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Tender mercies</span>.—What the wicked calls tenderness and kind treatment is really cruelty, as he takes no thought for the comfort of his beast.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-11.htm">Proverbs 12:11</a></div><div class="verse">He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain <i>persons is</i> void of understanding.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">Vain persons.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">things, </span>such as “searching for hid treasures” (<a href="/proverbs/2-4.htm" title="If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;">Proverbs 2:4</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-12.htm">Proverbs 12:12</a></div><div class="verse">The wicked desireth the net of evil <i>men</i>: but the root of the righteous yieldeth <i>fruit</i>.</div>(12) <span class= "bld">The wicked desireth the net of evil men—</span><span class= "ital">i.e., </span>to enrich himself by prey as they do; but the “root of the righteous yieldeth fruit,” by their own exertion they gain all they require without injuring others.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-13.htm">Proverbs 12:13</a></div><div class="verse">The wicked is snared by the transgression of <i>his</i> lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">The wicked is cursed by the transgression of his lips.—</span>For his words, the product of his evil heart, while designed to injure others, often bring the offender himself into trouble (<a href="/psalms/7-16.htm" title="His mischief shall return on his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own pate.">Psalm 7:16</a>), and moreover, as being the true index of the inner life of the soul, are being stored up as a witness against him at the day of judgment” (<a href="/matthew/12-37.htm" title="For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.">Matthew 12:37</a>). The “just man,” on the contrary, avoids all this “trouble.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-14.htm">Proverbs 12:14</a></div><div class="verse">A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of <i>his</i> mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.</div>(14) <span class= "bld">A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth </span>. . .—Even in this life the wise counsels and kindly deeds by which others are aided, the “bread cast upon the waters” (<a href="/ecclesiastes/11-1.htm" title="Cast your bread on the waters: for you shall find it after many days.">Ecclesiastes 11:1</a>), return to the giver in the shape of love and respect, and. <span class= "ital">it </span>may be, of similar aid; while the full recompense, “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,” will come later, at the great day of retribution.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-16.htm">Proverbs 12:16</a></div><div class="verse">A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent <i>man</i> covereth shame.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">A fool’s wrath is presently known.—</span>He cannot contain himself if he thinks himself slighted or injured; the “prudent man,” on the other hand, “covereth shame,” not noticing an insult at the time, but waiting for a convenient opportunity of telling the offender of his fault and bringing him to a better mind (<a href="/matthew/18-15.htm" title="Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother.">Matthew 18:15</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-18.htm">Proverbs 12:18</a></div><div class="verse">There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise <i>is</i> health.</div>(18) <span class= "bld">There is that speaketh.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">that babbleth, </span>like the piercing of a sword, that chatters on, not noticing or caring how he may wound the feelings of others by his inconsiderate remarks.<p><span class= "bld">The tongue of the wise is health</span>.—Or, <span class= "ital">healing; </span>soothing the wounds made by the other’s indiscriminate chatter.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-19.htm">Proverbs 12:19</a></div><div class="verse">The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue <i>is</i> but for a moment.</div>(19) <span class= "bld">A lying tongue is but for a moment</span>.—Being detected and silenced by the providence of God, (Comp. <a href="/context/psalms/64-7.htm" title="But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.">Psalm 64:7-8</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-20.htm">Proverbs 12:20</a></div><div class="verse">Deceit <i>is</i> in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellers of peace <i>is</i> joy.</div>(20) <span class= "bld">Deceit is in the heart </span>. . .—Those who plot and devise evil against others begin by deceiving them, and end by deceiving themselves also; whereas the “counsellors of peace,” who seek the good of their neighbours, bring joy to them and to themselves also through the satisfaction derived from a good conscience.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-21.htm">Proverbs 12:21</a></div><div class="verse">There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.</div>(21) <span class= "bld">There shall no evil happen to the just.—</span>Comp. our Lord’s promise as to temporal matters for those who “seek the kingdom of God” (<a href="/matthew/6-33.htm" title="But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.">Matthew 6:33</a>). and for God’s care in spiritual matters, <a href="/1_corinthians/10-13.htm" title="There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.">1Corinthians 10:13</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-23.htm">Proverbs 12:23</a></div><div class="verse">A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.</div>(23) <span class= "bld">A prudent man concealeth knowledge.—</span>Till the right opportunity for bringing it forth presents itself; while “the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness,” cannot help blurting out and displaying its ignorance and folly, which it mistakes for wisdom.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-24.htm">Proverbs 12:24</a></div><div class="verse">The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.</div>(24) <span class= "bld">Under tribute.—</span>Like the descendants of the Amorites and other former inhabitants of Canaan, by whose forced labour Solomon executed his great works (<a href="/context/1_kings/9-20.htm" title="And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,">1Kings 9:20-21</a>). A Hebrew from poverty might be reduced to slavery (Lev. xxv, 39),<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-25.htm">Proverbs 12:25</a></div><div class="verse">Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.</div>(25) <span class= "bld">Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it</span> <span class= "bld">stoop.</span>—But, as this is not favourable to the spiritual life, we have warnings against excessive anxiety (<a href="/matthew/6-34.htm" title="Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.">Matthew 6:34</a>), and exhortations to cast all our care upon God (<a href="/1_peter/5-7.htm" title="Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.">1Peter 5:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/37-5.htm" title="Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.">Psalm 37:5</a>) as a religious duty, that trusting in Him, and so having from Him the “peace which the world cannot give,” our hearts may be <span class= "ital">“</span>set to obey” His commandments.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-26.htm">Proverbs 12:26</a></div><div class="verse">The righteous <i>is</i> more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.</div>(26) <span class= "bld">The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour.</span>—Though, perhaps, inferior to him in worldly advantages. Or, it may signify, the just man is a guide to his neighbour, showing him “the way wherein he should walk;” the wicked, on the other hand, so far from guiding others, himself helplessly wanders.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-27.htm">Proverbs 12:27</a></div><div class="verse">The slothful <i>man</i> roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man <i>is</i> precious.</div>(27) <span class= "bld">The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">does not net, </span>(<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>secure) <span class= "ital">his prey; but a valuable possession to a man is diligence.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/12-28.htm">Proverbs 12:28</a></div><div class="verse">In the way of righteousness <i>is</i> life; and <i>in</i> the pathway <i>thereof there is</i> no death.</div>(28) <span class= "bld">In the way of righteousness is life.—</span>Comp. above on <a href="/proverbs/10-2.htm" title="Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death.">Proverbs 10:2</a>, “Righteousness delivereth from death.”<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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