Proverbs 12:5

12:1 Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes. 2. The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned. 3. Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are firmly fixed. 4. A wife who is pious, prudent, and looks well to the ways of her household, who makes conscience of her duty, and can bear crosses; such a one is an honour and comfort to her husband. She that is the reverse of this, preys upon him, and consumes him. 5. Thoughts are not free; they are under the Divine knowledge, therefore under the Divine command. It is a man's shame to act with deceit, with trick and design. 6. Wicked people speak mischief to their neighbours. A man may sometimes do a good work with one good word. 7. God's blessing is often continued to the families of godly men, while the wicked are overthrown. 8. The apostles showed wisdom by glorying in shame for the name of Christ. 9. He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries.

The thoughts of the righteous are right,.... Or "judgment" (o). The thoughts of men's hearts are naturally evil, nor can any think a good thought of themselves; but the thoughts of the righteous are directed and influenced by the grace of God, and are formed according to that Word which is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; their thoughts concerning God and religion, concerning Christ and his Gospel, his ways and worship, his truths and ordinances, they are judiciously framed according to the rule of God's word, the revelation he has made, and so are right; and such are their resolutions and designs to serve the Lord their God, and him only, and to cleave to him with full purpose of heart but the counsels of the wicked are deceit; the designs, schemes, and contrivances of wicked men, are to trick, and overreach, and defraud their neighbours in civil affairs; and of false teachers, to deceive the hearts of the simple in religious ones. The coming of the man of sin was with all deceivableness; and all the gaudy show and pageantry he makes, and pretended miracles he works, are to deceive the inhabitants of the earth; and by his sorceries all nations are deceived, 2 Thessalonians 2:10. (o) "judicium", Pagninns, Montanus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus.

Proverbs 12:5-7 . The thoughts of the righteous are right — His constant purpose is to be upright before God, and just and true in all his dealings with men. But the counsels of the wicked are deceit — His great care and contrivance are to deceive and wrong others by fair pretence and cunning artifices. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait, &c. — Are designed and ordered to entrap or deceive others, and to destroy them; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them — Namely, from those that lie in wait for them: either, 1st, By prayer to God for their deliverance; or, 2d, By bearing witness for them, and pleading their righteous cause, with such wisdom and arguments as cannot be gainsaid. The wicked are overthrown, and are not — They and their families shall suddenly perish; but the house — The family and posterity, of the righteous shall stand — On a firm basis, notwithstanding the attempts of their enemies to overthrow them. They shall stand when they that assaulted them are quite extinct.

Verse 5. - The thoughts of the righteous are right; literally, judgments ; i.e. just and fair, much more then words and actions. St. Gregory ('Mor. in Job,' lib. 25) takes another view, seeing in "judgments" the stings of conscience, and a rehearsal of the day of account. "The righteous," he says, "approach the secret chambers of the Judge in the recesses of their own hearts; they consider how smartly he smites at last, who long patiently bears with them. They are afraid for the sins which they remember they have committed; and they punish by their tears the faults which they know they have perpetrated. They dread the searching judgments of God, even in those sins which perchance they cannot discover in themselves. And in this secret chamber of inward judgment, constrained by the sentence of their own conduct, they chasten with penitence that which they have committed through pride" (Oxford transl.). But the counsels of the wicked - which they offer to others - are deceit. The mere "thoughts" are contrasted with the mature, expressed "counsels" Septuagint, "The wicked steer ( κυβερνῶσι ) deceits." (For "counsels," see notes, Proverbs 1:5 and Proverbs 20:18.) Proverbs 12:5

5 The thoughts of the righteous are justice, The counsels of the godless are deceit. They are so, that is, in their contents and their aim. To the righteous are ascribed מחשׁבות, namely, simple and clear; to the godless, תּחבּות, carefully thought out, prudently thought through schemes and measures, but on that very account not simple, because with a tendency; for the righteous have an objective rule, namely, that which is right in the sight of God and of men, but the godless have only a selfish purpose, which they seek to attain by deceiving, and at the cost of, their neighbour.

mind —or, "spirit," for anger or any ill passion which the righteous restrain. 12. His servants imitate him. 13. (Compare Proverbs 22:2). deceitful man —literally, "man of vexations," an exactor. the Lord … their eyes —sustains their lives (1 Samuel 14:27; Psalms 13:3); that is, both depend on Him, and He will do justice. 14. (Compare Proverbs 20:28; 25:5). Such is the character of the King of kings (Psalms 72:4, 12). 15. (Compare Proverbs 13:24; 23:13). 16. (Compare Proverbs 29:2, 12; Psalms 12:1-8). shall see … fall —and triumph in it (Psalms 37:34-38; 58:10, 11). 17. (Compare Proverbs 29:3, 15; Proverbs 19:18). give thee rest —peace and quiet (compare Proverbs 29:9). 18. no vision —instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (1 Samuel 3:1). people perish —(Compare Margin ), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law —has, and observes, instruction (Proverbs 14:11, 34; Psalms 19:11). 19. A servant —who lacks good principle. corrected —or discovered. will not answer —that is, will not obey. 20. (Compare Proverbs 21:5). ## hasty in … words? —implying self-conceit (Proverbs 26:12). 21. become his son —assume the place and privileges of one. 22. (Compare Proverbs 15:18). Such are delighted by discord and violence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). honour … spirit —or, "such shall lay hold on honor" (Proverbs 11:16). 24. hateth … soul —(Compare Proverbs 8:36). heareth cursing —(Leviticus 5:1), risks the punishment, rather than reveal truth. 25.

resteth —preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (Proverbs 12:23; 13:16). 34. Righteousness —just principles and actions. exalteth —raises to honor. is a reproach —brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Proverbs 13:6). 35. wise —discreet or prudent. causeth shame —(Proverbs 10:5; 12:4) acts basely. ## CHAPTER 15 Proverbs 15:1-33. 1. soft —tender or gentle. turneth … wrath —from any one. stir up —as a smouldering fire is excited. 2. useth … aright —commends knowledge by its proper use. poureth out —utters abundantly (Proverbs 12:23), and so disgusts others. 3. beholding —watching (compare Proverbs 5:21; Psalms 66:7). 4. A wholesome tongue —(Compare Margin ), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life —(Proverbs 3:18; 11:30). perverseness therein —cross, ill-natured language. breach … spirit —(compare Isaiah 65:14, Hebrew ), grieves, instead of appeasing. 5. (Compare Proverbs 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18). is prudent —acts discreetly. 6. treasure —implying utility. trouble —vexation and affliction. 7. (Compare Proverbs 10:20, 21). heart … not so —not right, or vain. 8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer —are acts of worship. ## way … followeth … righteousness —denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psalms 50:17; Isaiah 1:11. 10. (Compare Proverbs 10:17). the way —that in which God would have him to go (Proverbs 2:13; Psalms 119:1). 11. Hell —(Psalms 16:10). destruction —or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer.