Proverbs 12:1-9

CHAPTER 12
TEXT Proverbs 12:1-9

1.

Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge;

But he that hateth reproof is brutish.

2.

A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah;

But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

3.

A man shall not be established by wickedness;

But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

4.

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband;

But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

5.

The thoughts of the righteous are just;

But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

6.

The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood;

But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

7.

The wicked are overcome, and are not;

But the house of the righteous shall stand.

8.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom;

But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

9.

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant;

Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 12:1-9

1.

What is the meaning of loving correction when Hebrews 12:11 says no chastening for the moment seems joyous but grievous (Proverbs 12:1)?

2.

In what sense is one Brutish who hates reproof (Proverbs 12:1)?

3.

Among the things that a person might seek, where should obtaining the favor of God rank (Proverbs 12:2)?

4.

Cite some example of people of wicked devices whom God condemned (Proverbs 12:2)?

5.

Apply both parts of Proverbs 12:3 to David and his contemporaries.

6.

According to Proverbs 12:4 how can a wife affect her husband and his situation in life?

7.

Are thoughts and counsels in Proverbs 12:5 the same or different? Comment.

8.

In what two different ways can the tongue be used (Proverbs 12:6)?

9.

Think of people of your own acquaintance whom you respect for their wisdom (Proverbs 12:8).

10.

What verse in this chapter is similar to Proverbs 12:7?

11.

Think of people of your own acquaintance who are despised because of their perverse heart (Proverbs 12:8).

12.

What does the Bible say about honoring and exalting yourself (Proverbs 12:9)?

PARAPHRASE OF 12:1-9

1.

To learn, you must want to be taught. To refuse reproof is stupid.

2.

The Lord blesses good men and condemns the wicked.

3.

Wickedness never brings real success; only the godly have that.

4.

A worthy wife is her husband's joy and crown; the other kind corrodes his strength and tears down everything he does.

5.

A good man's mind is filled with honest thoughts; an evil man's mind is crammed with lies.

6.

The wicked accuse; the godly defend.

7.

The wicked shall perish; the godly shall stand.

8.

Everyone admires a man with good sense, but a man with a warped mind is despised.

9.

It is better to get your hands dirtyand eatthan to be to proud to work and starve.

COMMENTS ON 12:1-9

1 Thessalonians 1, 1 Thessalonians 12th chapter is another entire chapter with two statements per verse, usually contrasting statements and usually a contrast between the righteous and the wicked (as in Proverbs 12:2-3; Proverbs 12:5-7; Proverbs 12:10; Proverbs 12:12-13; Proverbs 12:17; Proverbs 12:20-22). This verse connects correction and knowledge, showing that we learn through correction. The new worker has everything explained at first; he remembers most of the instructions, but he makes a mistake; the foreman re-shows him the part he had forgotten, and he now knows how to do it. The major league hires batting coaches to help players with their batting (often through correcting something about their present stance, holding the bat, or swing). Yes, correction here means rebuke (see the last statement of the verse). On brutish Pulpit Commentary says: Insensible to higher aspirations, to regret for the past and hope of amendment, as a brute beast. A sad fact: more people hate reproof than love correction (John 3:19-21; 1 Kings 22:8; Amos 5:10).

Proverbs 12:2. A good man obtains God's favor, so does a righteous man (Genesis 7:1), and so does a wise man (Proverbs 8:35). Romans 5:7 draws a distinction between a good man and a righteous man. Righteousness has to do with doing right rather than wrong; goodness has to do with whether one is good to others or not. A man of wicked devices is neither right nor good. The first goal of life should be to obtain God's favor. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, and a host of others didand we can. Ahab, Jezebel, Judas Iscariot, Ananias and Sapphira didn-'tand many today don-'t.

Proverbs 12:3. Compare this verse with Proverbs 12:7 and Proverbs 10:25. A tree is something that is established; it is there from year to year. So are the righteous, but the wicked are often cut off (Psalms 37:1-2). Saul and his house lost out through disobedience (1 Samuel 15:23). David's house was established through obedience (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Wickedness may prosper for the moment but not forever (consider Ananias and Sapphira of Acts 5:1-10 ad Haman of Esther 5:11-12; Esther 7:8).

Proverbs 12:4. Pulpit Commentary: A virtuous womanone whose portrait is beautifully traced in Proverbs 31. The term is applied to Ruth in Ruth 3:11...As a crown to her husband, she is an honor to him, adorns and beautifies his life. But there are wives who make their husbands ashamed (maybe by over-spending, maybe their neglect of the house or the children, maybe by their excessive talking, maybe by their immoral conduct, etc.).

Proverbs 12:5. Everyone has thoughts. The righteous person's thoughts reflect righteous thinking (just), but wicked people's thoughts (counsels expressed in advice) are deceit and not sincere.

Proverbs 12:6. This verse seems to be related to the previous verse. The Thoughts of people are put into words in which the wicked are out to overthrow, but the righteous are out to deliver. Jezebel used deceit and words to overthrow Naboth (1 Kings 21:7-14). See Proverbs 1:10-13 also.

Proverbs 12:7. Similar in message to Proverbs 12:3. In Proverbs 12:6 the wicked were out to overthrow others; in this verse they themselves are overthrown, and the righteous who in Proverbs 12:6 were out to deliver others are in this verse themselves established. Read the New Testament account of this (Matthew 7:24-27).

Proverbs 12:8. David behaved himself wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war (1 Samuel 18:5). A wise person will be looked to for leadership among the relatives, in the community, at work, and in the church. While the righteous and the wise are held in high respect, the wicked are despised (1 Samuel 25:17).

Proverbs 12:9. Instead of hath a servant, some versions say Serving himself (Septuagint); Tills for himself (American Bible Union version) amplified speaks of working for his own support. Pulpit Commentary: it is wiser to look after one's own business and provide for one's own necessities, even if thereby he meets with contempt and detraction, than to be in real want, all the time assuming the airs of a rich and prosperous man.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 12:1-9

1.

What is the result of loving correction (Proverbs 12:1)?

2.

How is one brutish who hates reproof (Proverbs 12:1)?

3.

What is the careful distinction between a righteous person and a good person (Proverbs 12:2)?

4.

What should be one's first goal in life (Proverbs 12:2)?

5.

Who were some in the Bible who were not established because of wickedness (Proverbs 12:3)?

6.

Who were some who were established because of righteousness (Proverbs 12:3)?

7.

What chapter contains extended material on the virtuous woman (Proverbs 12:4)?

8.

How can a wife be a crown to her husband (Proverbs 12:4)?

9.

How can she make him ashamed (Proverbs 12:4)?

10.

How are Proverbs 12:5-6 related?

11.

How are Proverbs 12:6-7 related?

12.

How did David's case illustrate Proverbs 12:8?

13.

What do some other versions give for hath a servant in Proverbs 12:9?