Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 12 continues the antithetic-Solomonic-proverbs — 28 verses on the contrast between righteous and wicked in domains of speech, work, and household. Verse 10's 'the righteous man takes care of his animal' supplies the biblical-foundation for animal-welfare ethics.
Notable Variants
12:10 'the righteous considers the life of his beast' as animal-welfare foundation; 12:22 'lying lips are an abomination to the LORD' speech-ethics; 12:25 'anxiety weighs down the heart, but a good word makes it glad.'
Structural Notes
MT Prov 12 = LXX Prov 12. 28 verses.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is senseless.
'Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid' tracks MT.
A good person draws favor from the LORD, but a person who schemes He condemns.
'A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of evil devices he condemns' tracks MT.
No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
'No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved' tracks MT.
A woman of strength is a crown to her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like rot in his bones.
'An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones' tracks MT. EXCELLENT-WIFE CROWN — developed at Prov 31:10ff ('an excellent wife who can find?').
The plans of the righteous aim at justice; the schemes of the wicked aim at deceit.
'The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful' tracks MT.
The words of the wicked ambush for blood, but the mouth of the upright rescues them.
'The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them' tracks MT.
The wicked are overturned and are gone, but the household of the righteous stands firm.
'The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand' tracks MT.
A person is praised according to his insight, but the twisted in heart will be despised.
'A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised' tracks MT.
Better to be overlooked and have a servant than to boast of importance and lack bread.
'Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread' tracks MT.
A righteous person knows the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is cruelty.
'Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel' tracks MT. RIGHTEOUS-REGARDS-ANIMAL-LIFE — foundational animal-welfare ethic. Deuteronomy 25:4 ('you shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain') — cited at 1 Corinthians 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18 — extends.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but whoever chases empty pursuits lacks sense.
'Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense' tracks MT.
The wicked covets the plunder of evil people, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
'Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit' tracks MT.
The wicked is trapped by the sin of his lips, but the righteous escapes from distress.
'An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble' tracks MT.
From the fruit of his mouth a person is filled with good, and the work of his hands comes back to him.
'From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him' tracks MT.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise person listens to advice.
'The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel' tracks MT. FOOL-IN-OWN-EYES. Proverbs 3:7, 26:12 echo.
A fool's irritation is known at once, but a shrewd person conceals an insult.
'The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult' tracks MT.
A truthful witness declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
'Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit' tracks MT.
There is reckless talk that cuts like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
'There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing' tracks MT. TONGUE-OF-THE-WISE HEALS.
Truthful speech endures forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
'Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment' tracks MT. TRUTH-ENDURES.
Deceit fills the heart of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace find joy.
'Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy' tracks MT.
No real harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
'No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble' tracks MT.
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are His delight.
'Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight' tracks MT. LYING-LIPS ABOMINATION — from the Prov 6:16–19 seven-hated-things list, specifically isolated.
A shrewd person conceals his knowledge, but the heart of fools broadcasts foolishness.
'A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly' tracks MT.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness leads to forced labor.
'The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor' tracks MT.
Anxiety in a person's heart weighs it down, but a good word lifts it up.
'Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad' tracks MT. ANXIETY-WEIGHS-DOWN. 1 Peter 5:7 ('casting all your anxieties on him') extends.
The righteous guides his neighbor well, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
'One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray' tracks MT.
The lazy person does not roast what he catches, but diligence is a person's precious wealth.
'Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth' tracks MT.
On the path of righteousness there is life; along that road there is no death.
'In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death' tracks MT. NO-DEATH-IN-RIGHTEOUSNESS-PATH. Romans 8:10's 'the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness' extends.