Chapter Twelve

1–3. On the inner and outer opposition of good and evil in general. 4–11. On the happiness and unhappiness of family life and the causes of one and the other. 12–22. On positive and negative phenomena in social life, mainly in connection with the proper or improper use of the tongue. 23–26. On wisdom, righteousness, and diligence with their opposites.

Proverbs 12:1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:2. The good obtain favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns those who devise wicked schemes. Proverbs 12:3. No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. The thought that the path to wisdom lies in instruction and careful attention to it (v. 1) represents a repetition of what was expressed in Prov 10:17; and the thought about the lasting nature of righteousness alone (v. 3) was expressed earlier in Prov 10:25.

Proverbs 12:4. A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful woman is like decay in his bones. Proverbs 12:5. The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. Proverbs 12:6. The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. Proverbs 12:7. The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. Proverbs 12:8. A person is praised according to their prudence, and one of perverted mind is despised. Proverbs 12:9. Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. Proverbs 12:10. The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:11. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies lack sense. “Proverbs 12. Prov.12:11a. [Whoever finds pleasure in idling over wine will leave shame in his own house.]” First among the goods of a man’s family life is placed the capable wife, called the crown of her husband (4a)—because her labor, diligence, prudence, and the like bring her husband wealth, honor, and glory (cf. Prov 31:10 and following); by contrast, the harm done by an evil wife is immeasurable: as a worm gnaws at wood and it dries and perishes, so an evil wife gnaws at her husband’s health and well-being and that of the whole family (cf. Sir 25:11 and following). Then, after a general opposition of the benefit of the thoughts, intentions, words and deeds of the righteous and the harmfulness of all this in the wicked (vv. 5–6) and indication of the opposition of the external ultimate fate of the wicked and righteous (v. 7, cf. Prov 10:25), as well as the different attitude of public opinion to the words and speech of the one and the other (v. 8), praise is given to the diligence of a humble poor man and condemnation of contempt for labor and idleness of a vain man (v. 9), more specifically, praise for the work of a farmer and condemnation of all idleness, which leads to various vices, for example, to drunkenness (v. 11 according to the LXX). To the characterization of the righteous belongs (v. 10) also the fact that he shows mercy even to animals, obeying the promptings of natural compassion and following the direct precepts of the law (Exod 20:10; Exod 22:4-5; Lev 22:28; Deut 25:4), which enjoined the Hebrew to treat animals humanely.

Proverbs 12:12. The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoing, but the righteous are rooted and unshaken. Proverbs 12:13. The wicked are trapped by their sinful talk, but the righteous escape trouble. “Proverbs 12. Prov.12:13a. [He who looks with a gentle eye will be shown mercy, but he who stands in the gate will distress others.]” Proverbs 12:14. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. Proverbs 12:15. The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:16. Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:17. An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies. Proverbs 12:18. The words of the rash pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:19. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Proverbs 12:20. Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. Proverbs 12:21. No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. Proverbs 12:22. Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but those who speak truthfully are his delight. The desires, words, and deeds of the wicked and righteous are essentially different; different too is the fruit, the consequence of them for one and the other: failure and utter destruction for the wicked, and salvation for the righteous (vv. 12–14, cf. Prov 18:7; Ps 61:13). Then are contrasted the self-conceit and impatience of the fool with the modesty (in accepting counsel from others) and patience and caution (when receiving injury) of the wise man (vv. 15–16), as well as the truthfulness and reliability of the testimony of the wise and the falsehood, deceit, and malice of the testimony of the fool and the wicked (vv. 17–22). Being in itself an evil, which always causes painful response in the heart of one’s neighbor, as if wounding him (v. 18), the testimony or false testimony of the wicked brings destruction upon himself as well (vv. 19–20); mainly the loss of the mercy of God, which is inseparable from those upright in heart, word, and deed (v. 22).

Proverbs 12:23. The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but the heart of fools blurts out folly. Proverbs 12:24. Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. Proverbs 12:25. Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:26. The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:27. The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the wealth of the diligent. Proverbs 12:28. In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. Praised are restraint in speech, which belongs to the wise man (v. 23a), his ability to comfort the sorrowful with a word (v. 25a), and in general the guidance he provides to his neighbor (v. 26); also diligence and industriousness (vv. 24a, 27b); condemned, by contrast, are the opposite vices of the wicked. The general conclusion of the chapter is: the way of righteousness leads to true life and immortality (v. 28).