5 The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit.
Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit. The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.
For he takes comfort in the thought that his sin will not be uncovered and hated. In the words of his mouth are evil and deceit; he has given up being wise and doing good. He gives thought to evil on his bed; he takes a way which is not good; he is not a hater of evil.
I will give thought to your orders, and have respect for your ways.
O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:
<To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> O Lord, take me out of the power of the evil man; keep me safe from the violent man: For their hearts are full of evil designs; and they are ever making ready causes of war. Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.
O Jerusalem, make your heart clean from evil, so that you may have salvation. How long are evil purposes to have a resting-place in you?
And when it came to the ears of Herod the king, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he got together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, questioning them as to where the birth-place of the Christ would be. And they said to him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea; for so it is said in the writings of the prophet, You Beth-lehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the chiefs of Judah: out of you will come a ruler, who will be the keeper of my people Israel. Then Herod sent for the wise men privately, and put questions to them about what time the star had been seen. And he sent them to Beth-lehem and said, Go and make certain where the young child is; and when you have seen him, let me have news of it, so that I may come and give him worship.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was very angry; and he sent out, and put to death all the male children in Beth-lehem and in all the parts round about it, from two years old and under, acting on the knowledge which he had got with care from the wise men.
And they made designs together to take Jesus by some trick, and put him to death.
For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 12
Commentary on Proverbs 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
Pro 12:1
We are here taught to try whether we have grace or no by enquiring how we stand affected to the means of grace.
Pro 12:2
Note,
Pro 12:3
Note,
Pro 12:4
Note,
Pro 12:5
Note,
Pro 12:6
In the foregoing verse the thoughts of the wicked and righteous were compared; here their words, and those are as the abundance of the heart is.
Pro 12:7
We are here taught as before (v. 3 and ch. 10:25, 30),
Pro 12:8
We are here told whence to expect a good name. Reputation is what most have a high regard to and stand much upon. Now it is certain,
Pro 12:9
Note,
Pro 12:10
See here,
Pro 12:11
Note,
Pro 12:12
See here,
Pro 12:13
See here,
Pro 12:14
We are here assured, for our quickening to every good word and work,
Pro 12:15
See here,
Pro 12:16
Note,
Pro 12:17
Here is,
Pro 12:18
The tongue is death or life, poison or medicine, as it is used.
Pro 12:19
Be it observed, to the honour of truth, that sacred thing,
Pro 12:20
Note,
Pro 12:21
Note,
Pro 12:22
We are here taught,
Pro 12:23
Note,
Pro 12:24
Note,
Pro 12:25
Here is,
Pro 12:26
See here,
Pro 12:27
Here is,
Pro 12:28
The way of religion is here recommended to us,