Proverbs 12

Notes

Ver. 1. He who loves reproofs, advices, and instructions, will become wise and intelligent; but he who declines, hates, and is enraged at rebukes for his faults, is under the power of his brutish passions; and there is little hope that he will ever know or act like a man. 2. The man who, being united to Christ, is clothed with his righteousness, and sanctified by his grace, and deals kindly and bountifully with others, shall be more and more favoured and blessed of God; but he whose thoughts are bent on wickedness shall be condemned to suffer the just punishment of his iniquity. 3. No man, however subtle or powerful, shall be able to establish his own or his family's greatness by wicked methods: but the righteous, being rooted and grounded in the rock Christ, though shaken by manifold storms of trouble, shall remain unmovable in a flourishing state. 4. A pious, prudent, active, chaste, and affectionate wife is a singular ornament and honour to her husband: but one that is graceless, lazy, foolish, prodigal, peevish, boisterous, and wanton, shames him when abroad, and torments him at home; and, like an incurable disease, vexes his heart, hastens him to his grave, wastes his substance, and ruins his family. 5. The thoughts and designs of good men are managed with piety, equity, candour, and truth; but the contrivances of the wicked are carried on with fraud, dissimulation, and falsehood. 6. Wicked men, by their consultations with one another, and by their reproach and perjury, study to undo their opposers; but they who are sincerely good will labour, by their advice, testimony, recommendation, or request, to deliver such innocent persons from their snares. 7. God himself not only defeats the ruinous projects of the wicked, but totally destroys and extirpates them and their families: whereas he continues and establishes the persons, properties, and families of the just. 8. Not earthly science, honour, or riches, but spiritual wisdom, and a prudent management of his affairs, by fair and honest means, will render a man highly and lastingly honoured, and commended of God and of all good men. but he who indulges his obstinate corruptions, hates and opposes his duty, and labours by wicked means to accomplish his ends, shall bring himself into present and everlasting contempt. 9. Far happier is he who, making no pompous show in the world, lives within the bounds of his income, though it should hardly afford him a single servant, than he who shows away with a great deal of elegance, equipage, and attendants, when he can hardly get necessary subsistence, without running into debt, or some other shameful and miserable shift. 10. Good men have implanted in their hearts a tender concern for the welfare and life of the brute animals, much more for that of their servants and neighbours: but the nature of the wicked is so cruel, that the very kindnesses which they affect to show are maliciously designed and ruinous. 11. Diligent industry in lawful callings shall, through the blessing of God, afford men a competent portion of temporal things; but idleness and bad company mark a man foolish, and lead him into desperate, impoverishing, and ruinous courses. 12. Wicked men desire, approve, and practise deceitful arts for ruining others, and wish to be secure in so doing: but the piety and justice from which righteous men's actions proceed, bring forth glory to God, maintenance and blessings to themselves, and much benefit and advantage to others around. 13. Wicked men are often brought into trouble by their own rash speeches, treasons, perjuries, lies, and calumnies: but the righteous, by the providence of God, and even by their prudent discourse, avoid and escape from many difficulties, in which otherwise they had been entangled. 14. A man shall receive abundant blessings from God, as the reward of that good which he has done by his pious and profitable discourses or works. 15. Fools are so self-conceited, that they consult nobody, but hold right whatever they think or do themselves: but wise men, distrusting their own judgment and abilities, wisely ask and take advice or instruction of others. 16. Fools, having no command of their passions, are no sooner provoked, than rage and fury appear in their countenance, words, and actions; but prudent persons conceal that displeasure which would tend to their disgrace, and overlook the shameful provocation given them, rather than dishonour themselves by resenting it. 17. He who, especially when called to be a witness, boldly and freely speaks the truth, and nothing else, shows himself an honest man, and does justice to his neighbours: but he who conceals truth, forges lies, or attests falsehoods, shows himself a deceitful and mischievous villain. 18. Some, by false accusations, calumnies, and bitter reproaches, wound the reputations, spirits, or estates of their neighbours, and make discords and divisions among them: but good men, by their prudent speeches, will labour to heal men's reputations, compose their disputes, and comfort and edify their souls. 19. Constant adherence to strict truth in his speeches establishes a man's credit, and what he says can never be disproved; but a liar, though he may be at first believed, is soon after found out and confuted; and he is moreover apt to contradict himself, and blast his reputation for ever. 20. They who plot mischief shall, to their great vexation, be disappointed in their expectations, and even fall into that evil which they intended for others; but they who by their counsels labour to promote the piety, peace, and happiness of others, shall have lasting joy and comfort for their reward. 21. Let the wicked plot as they will, nothing shall befall the righteous, but what tends to their spiritual and eternal advantage; but the wicked shall be quite overwhelmed with inward plagues and outward calamities. 22. Lies and liars are remarkably hated and abhorred of God; but they who, in their speeches and whole conduct, act in truth, fidelity, and candour, are beloved, and shall be blessed by him. 23. A prudent man conceals the knowledge he has, except when called by Providence to use it for the benefit of others, and even then makes no boasting ostentation of it; but a fool, through thoughtlessness, rashness, or ambition to be esteemed wise, proclaims his own weakness and ignorance. 24. Diligent and prudent activity in honest callings is the way to obtain riches, honour, and authority; but laziness and villany render men poor and enslaved. 25. Anxious cares about the things of this world, griefs for disappointments and troubles, convictions of sin, and fears of hell, depress the most magnanimous spirit, and make it to pore disconsolate over its wretchedness: but good instruction and advice from friends, and especially the promises of God powerfully applied, revive and make it glad. 26. In his state of union with Christ, justification and adoption, in his inward graces, and his exercises of holiness, and in his abundant happiness, a righteous man is more excellent than his neighbour; but the way that the wicked takes to render himself great or happy only deceives and disappoints him, and issues in misery. 27. Lazy wretches cannot endure to prosecute their own schemes for obtaining earthly enjoyments; or what they have deceitfully obtained never affords them any real comforts, but, as it were, slips through their fingers, or rots at their side, or is taken from them: but the wealth and honour, which is obtained by an honest diligence, is extremely valuable and lasting, being blessed of God. 28. In receiving Christ as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and walking in him, there is a real possession of life spiritual, and a certain prospect of life eternal; nor is there a single act of piety or virtue that tends to make a man miserable.

Ver. 14. The fruit of his mouth. A word of instruction, reproof, comfort, or kindness is sure to be, sooner or later, in some form repaid—and though never acknowledged by the world, will not be forgotten of God. In another sense also the proverb is fulfilled: the man who establishes a character for truth and intelligence, is sure to find his remuneration in character and employment, ver. 17, 19. C.

Ver. 21. No evil. No real, permanent evil. Troubles, pains, and even distresses, he may feel, but there is nothing really evil that is not superseded by the enjoyment of eternal blessedness. C.

Ver. 26. More excellent. 'More successful' (A. Williams). But as there is none righteous but Jesus, Ro. 3. 10, 22, the words either describe him who is 'fairer than the sons of men,' or the man who is made righteous by faith in Jesus, and whose excellency lies in the imputation of righteousness, and the renewal of his nature by the power of his Spirit. C.