[6] The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Lie in wait — Are designed to entrap others, and to destroy them.
Deliver them — From those that lie in wait for them.
Verse 7
[7] The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Are not — Both they and their families suddenly perish.
Verse 9
[9] He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Despised — That lives in a mean condition.
Honoureth — That glories in his high birth or gay attire.
Verse 10
[10] A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Regardeth — He will not destroy it either by labour beyond its strength, or by denying it necessary food or rest.
Cruel — There is cruelty mixed even with their most merciful actions.
Verse 11
[11] He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Tilleth — That employs his time in an honest calling.
Vain persons — In an idle course of living.
Verse 12
[12] The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
Desireth — He approves those arts, which wicked men use like nets to ensnare other men.
The root — That piety, which is the root of his actions, yields him sufficient fruit both for his own need, and to do good to others.
Verse 14
[14] A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Mouth — By his pious and profitable discourses.
Hands — Of his actions.
Verse 15
[15] The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Hearkeneth — That distrusts his own judgments, and seeks counsel from others.
Verse 16
[16] A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
Covereth — The shame, or injury done to him, which he conceals and bears with patience.
Verse 17
[17] He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Deceit — He who uses himself to lying in his common talk, will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.
Verse 18
[18] There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Health — Tends to the comfort and benefit of others.
Verse 19
[19] The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
A moment — Liars, though they may make a fair shew for a season, yet are quickly convicted.
Verse 20
[20] Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Deceit — They whose hearts devise mischief shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring trouble upon themselves: but they who by good counsels labour to promote peace, shall reap the comfort of it themselves.
Verse 23
[23] A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Concealeth — He does not unseasonably utter what he knows.
Foolishness — Betrays his ignorance and folly.
Verse 25
[25] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
A good word — A compassionate or encouraging word.
Verse 26
[26] The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Neighbour — Than any other men.
Seduceth — Heb. maketh them to err, to lose that excellency or happiness which they had promised themselves.
Verse 27
[27] The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Resteth not — Does not enjoy the fruit of his labours.
Precious — Yields him comfort and blessing with it.
Proverbs 12 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 6
[6] The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Lie in wait — Are designed to entrap others, and to destroy them.
Deliver them — From those that lie in wait for them.
Verse 7
[7] The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Are not — Both they and their families suddenly perish.
Verse 9
[9] He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Despised — That lives in a mean condition.
Honoureth — That glories in his high birth or gay attire.
Verse 10
[10] A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Regardeth — He will not destroy it either by labour beyond its strength, or by denying it necessary food or rest.
Cruel — There is cruelty mixed even with their most merciful actions.
Verse 11
[11] He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Tilleth — That employs his time in an honest calling.
Vain persons — In an idle course of living.
Verse 12
[12] The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
Desireth — He approves those arts, which wicked men use like nets to ensnare other men.
The root — That piety, which is the root of his actions, yields him sufficient fruit both for his own need, and to do good to others.
Verse 14
[14] A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Mouth — By his pious and profitable discourses.
Hands — Of his actions.
Verse 15
[15] The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Hearkeneth — That distrusts his own judgments, and seeks counsel from others.
Verse 16
[16] A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
Covereth — The shame, or injury done to him, which he conceals and bears with patience.
Verse 17
[17] He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Deceit — He who uses himself to lying in his common talk, will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.
Verse 18
[18] There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Health — Tends to the comfort and benefit of others.
Verse 19
[19] The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
A moment — Liars, though they may make a fair shew for a season, yet are quickly convicted.
Verse 20
[20] Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Deceit — They whose hearts devise mischief shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring trouble upon themselves: but they who by good counsels labour to promote peace, shall reap the comfort of it themselves.
Verse 23
[23] A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Concealeth — He does not unseasonably utter what he knows.
Foolishness — Betrays his ignorance and folly.
Verse 25
[25] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
A good word — A compassionate or encouraging word.
Verse 26
[26] The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Neighbour — Than any other men.
Seduceth — Heb. maketh them to err, to lose that excellency or happiness which they had promised themselves.
Verse 27
[27] The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Resteth not — Does not enjoy the fruit of his labours.
Precious — Yields him comfort and blessing with it.