Posted by Jeff Short on April 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
– Proverbs 12:21
The word for
evil means trouble or sorrow. The first phrase seems to run counter to reality. We know the wise and good have sorrows and troubles that come to them in life. We understand the meaning when we consider the contrast. The
just don’t have the troubles and sorrows of their own making as the
wicked do (Proverbs 14:14). The word for
mischief means calamity or adversity. The
wicked will not only have distresses but will be
filled with them, which indicates fully and continually. This is the fruit of their own way (Proverbs 1:31).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
– Proverbs 12:13
Proverbs speaks much to words, their use and their danger. Here words of
transgression, or rebellion, ensnare the speaker. Solomon warned his son of speaking hastily and the snare that could result from it (Proverbs 6:1-2). The word for
trouble means tightness, or straitness. We might say to get in a bind. The
wicked speak rebellious words that get them in a bind (Proverbs 18:7), but the
just speak wise words that deliver, or keep, them out a bind (Proverbs 13:2; 18:20).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
– Proverbs 12:12
The interpretations of this proverb are various. There is actually a double contrast in this proverb. The
net of evil men is contrasted with the
root of the righteous and the desire of the
wicked is contrasted with the yield of the
righteous. The
net of evil men is the plans and means of evil men to capture, or make a quick gain. The
root is something that must be planted in the ground, fed, and kept. It grows and over time yields a produce. One seeks a big gain all at once through some ill stratagem and the other sees ahead and patiently waits for the honest gain of borne fruit. The word for
desireth means to delight in or take pleasure in. The wicked’s desire is to grasp and get by whatever means, and the quicker the better. The word for
yieldeth means to give. The wisdom of the righteous teaches them to desire to bless others and not only seek their own gain.
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 3, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
– Proverbs 12:10
The word for
righteous is common and means justice. It gives the idea of dealing justly or fairly with others. Here the righteous man is considerate of
the life of his beast. The phrase expresses how thorough his kindness is as it extends to animal life. The law had certain provisions pertaining to animals and their treatment (Exodus 22:20; Leviticus 22:27-28; Deuteronomy 22:6; 25:4). The righteous man has understanding, particularly of the creation and the respect we should have for it. The contrast with the
wicked is heightened by comparing their conduct toward people. The word for
tender mercies means compassion. The phrase expresses that the wicked have so little regard for others that even their compassion is cruel.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
– Proverbs 12:7
This proverb refers to the
wicked being cut off (Proverbs 2:22). Wisdom teaches there is no stability or longevity in the folly of wickedness. Contrariwise, the
righteous will be established and their expectation not ashamed (Proverbs 2:21).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
– Proverbs 12:6
To
lie in wait for blood is to set a trap. The
words of the wicked are here distinguished from their plans. Their very speech is a snare as well as their schemes (Proverbs 1:11-19). The
mouth of the upright is contrasted because their words deliver from snares and nets (Proverbs 10:13, 21, 32). The tension in this proverb is over the instruction of the simple. Will the wicked lure them, or will they learn wisdom at the mouth of the upright? The thought of deliverance here is akin to winning souls in Proverbs 11:30.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
– Proverbs 12:5
The principle in this proverbs was expressed by Jesus in terms of a tree bearing fruit only according to its type (Matthew 7:17-19). The word for
thoughts means plans or intentions. The intentions of the
righteous are the fruit they produce, which fruit is
right. The word for
counsels literally means steerage and indicates guidance or advice. These are the fruit produced by the
wicked and, therefore, they are
deceit, or treachery. Kidner observed that we ignore this proverb when we elect leaders based “on the strength of their promises rather than their principles.”
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
– Proverbs 12:3
A root anchors and stabilizes the tree. Having a good root means flourishing in fruit and strength to withstand storms and so to endure. There is no such root in
wickedness. The word for
established means to stand upright. Righteousness, on the contrary, will establish a man that he
not be moved (Proverbs 10:25).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
– Proverbs 11:31
The word for
recompensed means repaid and carries the thought of completion. The requital can be reward or judgment depending on the context. The word is used at least twice in Proverbs to speak of a reward to the righteous (Proverbs 13:13, 21). If we think more about the aspect of completion in the recompense, we see it refers to a fitting reward that finishes the works. So, the
righteous receive a reward that brings completion to their works and the
wicked receive a reward of judgment that finishes their works. The proverb does not present a contrast, but a comparison and the primary point is that just reward is sure to come to all.
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Proverbs 12:21
Posted by Jeff Short on April 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
The word for evil means trouble or sorrow. The first phrase seems to run counter to reality. We know the wise and good have sorrows and troubles that come to them in life. We understand the meaning when we consider the contrast. The just don’t have the troubles and sorrows of their own making as the wicked do (Proverbs 14:14). The word for mischief means calamity or adversity. The wicked will not only have distresses but will be filled with them, which indicates fully and continually. This is the fruit of their own way (Proverbs 1:31).– Proverbs 12:21
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