1Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge; but he who hates correction is brutish. 2The good man obtains favor from Jehovah, but He will condemn a man of wicked devices. 3A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4A woman of strength is a crown to her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. 5The thoughts of the righteous are right; the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 7The wicked are overthrown, and are gone; but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9Better is one who is despised and has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread. 10A righteous man understands the soul of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows vanities lacks heart. 12The wicked desires the net full of evils, but the root of the righteous yields fruit. 13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips, but the just shall come out of trouble. 14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands shall be returned to him. 15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who gives heed to counsel is wise. 16A fool's anger is known in a day, but the prudent one covers shame. 17He who utters truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. 18There are those who speak like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. 19The lips of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a twinkling moment. 20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but to counselors of peace there is joy. 21No evil shall happen to the just, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah, but those who deal in faithfulness are His delight. 23A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. 24The hand of the diligent shall rule, but the slothful shall be under servitude. 25Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. 26The righteous searches out his friends, but the way of the wicked makes him wander. 27The slothful does not roast his game taken in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious. 28In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway there is no death.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Pro. 12:1-28)
loveth knowledge--as the fruit of instruction or training (
Pro 1:2).
hateth reproof-- (
Pro 10:17).
brutish--stupid, regardless of his own welfare (
Ps 49:10;
Ps 73:22).
3 Wickedness cannot give permanent prosperity.
root . . . not be moved--firm as a flourishing tree-- (
Ps 1:3;
Ps 15:5;
Jer 17:8).
4 A virtuous woman--in the wide sense of well-disposed to all moral duties (
Pro 31:10).
maketh ashamed--that is, by misconduct.
rottenness--an incurable evil.
5 thoughts--or, "purposes."
are right--literally, "are judgment," that is, true decisions.
counsels--(Compare
Pro 11:14).
deceit--contrary to truth and honesty.
6 The words--or, "expressed designs" of the wicked are for evil purposes.
the mouth--or, "words" of the righteous delivering instead of ensnaring men.
7 Such conduct brings a proper return, by the destruction of the wicked and well-being of the righteous and his family.
8 despised--as opposed to commended (
Pro 11:12).
perverse heart--or, "wicked principles," as opposed to one of wisdom.
9 despised--held in little repute, obscure (
1Sam 18:23;
Isa 3:5).
hath a servant--implying some means of honest living.
honoureth himself--is self-conceited.
10 regardeth--literally, "knoweth" (
Ps 1:6).
mercies . . . cruel--as acts of compassion ungraciously rendered to the needy. The righteous more regards a beast than the wicked a man.
11 The idler's fate is the result of indolence and want of principle (
Pro 6:32;
Pro 7:7).
12 the wicked . . . evil--They love the crafty arts of deception.
the root . . . fruit--their own resources supply them; or, it may be rendered: "He (God) giveth, or, sets (
Ezek 17:22) the root of the righteous," and hence it is firm: or, the verb is impersonal; "As to the root . . . it is firm" (
Pro 17:19).
13 The wicked is snared, &c.--The sentiment expanded. While the wicked, such as liars, flatterers, &c., fall by their own words, the righteous are unhurt. Their good conduct makes friends, and God rewards them.
15 The way . . . eyes--The fool is self-conceited (compare
Pro 12:1;
Pro 1:32;
Pro 10:17;
Jas 3:17).
16 prudent . . . shame--He is slow to denounce his insulters (
Jas 1:19).
18 speaketh--literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly (
Ps 106:33), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives.
tongue . . . health--by soothing and gentle language.
19 Words of truth are consistent, and stand all tests, while lies are soon discovered and exposed.
20 that imagine--or, "plan" (
Pro 3:29). They design a deceitful course, to which, with all its evils and dangers to others and themselves, the happiness of peace-makers is opposed (compare
Matt 5:9;
Rom 12:18).
21 no evil--(as in
Ps 91:10), under God's wise limitations (
Rom 8:28).
mischief--as penal evil.
22 deal truly--or, "faithfully," that is, according to promises (compare
John 3:21).
23 concealeth--by his modesty (
Pro 10:14;
Pro 11:13).
heart . . . proclaimeth--as his lips speak his thoughts (compare
Eccl 10:3).
24 slothful--(Compare Margin), so called because he fails to meet his promises.
under tribute--not denoting legal taxes, but the obligation of dependence.
25 a good word--one of comfort.
26 more excellent--(Compare Margin); or, "more successful," while the wicked fail; or, we may read it: "The righteous guides his friend, but," &c., that is, The ability of the righteous to aid others is contrasted with the ruin to which the way of the wicked leads themselves.
27 (Compare
Pro 12:24).
took in hunting--or, "his venison." He does not improve his advantages.
the substance . . . precious--or, "the wealth of a man of honor is being diligent," or "diligence."
precious--literally, "honor" (
Eccl 10:1).
28 (Compare
Pro 8:8,
Pro 8:20, &c.). A sentiment often stated; here first affirmatively, then negatively.