12
📚Whoever loves instructionloves knowledge,
but he who hates correction 📖 is stupid 📖.
2 📚A good man obtains favour
from the LORD,
but he will condemn a man who devises evil.
3 📚A man will not be established
by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will not be shaken.
4 📚A virtuous woman is a crown
to her husband,
but she who makes him ashamed is
like rottenness in his bones.
5 📚The thoughts of the righteous are right,
but the counsels of the wicked
are deceitful.
6 📚The words of the wicked lie
in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright will
rescue them.
12:5-6 So we can tell the difference between the righteous and wicked by their words and plans. We should never take the advice of a wicked person (Ps 1:1-2).⚜
7 📚The wicked are overthrown,
and are no more, but the house
of the righteous will stand.
8 📚A man will be commended according
to his wisdom,
but he who has a perverse heart
will be despised.
9 📚He who is despised and
has a servant is better off than
he who honours himself and lacks bread.
10 📚A righteous man has regard
for the life of his beast,
but the tender mercies
of the wicked are cruel.
12:10 Prov 27:23; Deut 25:4. A good man will be kind to man or beast; a wicked person doesn’t even know what true kindness is and there will be a mixture of evil in even his best acts.⚜
11 📚He who tills his land will have
an abundance of bread,
but he who follows vain things
lacks understanding.
12 📚The wicked desires the plunder
of evil men, but the root
of the righteous yields fruit.
13 📚The wicked is ensnared by
the transgression of his lips,
but the just will come out of trouble.
14 📚A man will be satisfied with good
by the fruit of his mouth,
and the reward of a man’s hands will be
given to him.
15 📚The way of a fool is right 📖
in his own eyes,
but he who listens to counsel is wise.
16 📚A fool’s wrath becomes known at once,
but a prudent man conceals dishonour.
12:16 The quality praised here is self-control – Prov 29:11.⚜
17 📚He who speaks truth declares
what is right,
but a false witness deceit.
18 📚There is speaking that pierces like a sword 📖,
but the tongue of the wise brings health 📖.
19 📚The truthful lip will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 📚Deceit is in the heart
of those who plan evil,
but joy is in the counsellors of peace.
21 📚No harm 📖 happens to the just,
but the wicked will be filled with trouble.
22 📚Lying lips are detestable
to the LORD,
but they who deal truly are his delight.
12:22 “Detestable” – Prov 6:16-17. There can be few things the God of truth hates more than lying. Mark it down. Write it on the tablets of your heart. Above all things get truth implanted in your inner man (Ps 51:6), and speak it from the heart (Ps 15:2; Eph 4:15).⚜
23 📚A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 📚The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the lazy will be under forced labour.
25 📚Anxiety in the heart of man weighs it down,
but a good word makes it glad.
26 📚The righteous finds the best way for
his neighbour,
but the way of the wicked seduces them.
27 📚The lazy man does not roast 📖
what he gets in hunting,
but the possessions of a diligent man
are precious.
28 📚In the way of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is
no death.
12:28 Prov 10:2; Deut 30:15. Eternal life and justification (God’s counting men righteous when they believe Him) are intimately connected (Rom 5:18).⚜