Proverbs 12:8

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. A MAN SHALL BE COMMENDED ACCORDING TO (LITERALLY, ACCORDING TO THE MOUTH OF: A HEBREW IDIOM FOR IN PROPORTION TO) HIS WISDOM. God and His faithful people judge a man not according to the apparent success of an undertaking, but according to its spiritual "wisdom." Worldly men praise or condemn only according to the apparent success or failure. BUT HE THAT IS OF A PERVERSE HEART SHALL BE DESPISED - by God; and at last, man, when he is found out in his true character....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 12:1 INSTRUCTION; correction, discipline, which shows a man his faults, gives him a lowly opinion of himself, and opens his mind to receive _knowledge, _especially the knowledge of himself and of all moral obligations. IS BRUTISH; is as insensible to higher aspirations, to regret for the past or hope of amendment, as a brute beast (comp. Proverbs 30:2). On this point St. Augustine is quoted: "Quicumque corripi non vis, ex eo sane corripiendus es quia corripi non vis. Non vis enim tua tibi vitia demonstrari; non vis ut feriantur, fiatque tibi utilis dolor, quo medicum quaeras; non vis tibi tu ipse ostendi, ut cum deformem te vides, reformaturum desideres, eique supplices ne in illa remaneas foeditate

A MAN SHALL BE COMMENDED ACCORDING TO HIS WISDOM,.... Not according to his birth and pedigree; not according to his riches and wealth; not according to the places of honour and trust he may be in; but according to his wisdom, which he discovers in his words and actions, in his life and conversation: not according to the wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish; not according to the wisdom of the world, which comes to nought, either natural or civil; especially that which lies in sophistry and subtlety, in wicked craft and cunning, whereby men trick, overreach, and defraud one another; but according to that which is spiritual and evangelical; which lies in the knowledge of Christ, and of God in Christ, and of those things which belong to salvation; the beginning of which is the fear of the Lord, and which comes from above, and is pure and peaceable. A man possessed of this is commend...

CHAPTER 12 THE CONTRAST IN RELATION TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS In these proverbs we have the righteous mentioned, his thoughts, his words, his domestic relationship, his attitude toward animal creation Proverbs 12:10); his diligence; all is contrasted with the wicked in these beautiful antithetic expressions of wisdom. The thoughts of the righteous are right Proverbs 12:5), because his heart is right; his words bring deliverance Proverbs 12:6); in speaking truth he showeth forth righteousness Proverbs 12:17); his tongue is health Proverbs 12:1

PROVERBS 12. Here we have a number of proverbs handling the favourite subject of retribution (Proverbs 12:2 f., Proverbs 12:7; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 12:21; Proverbs 12:28). Several deal with speech (Proverbs 12:6; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 12:16;...

SHALL BE COMMENDED. Illustration: Joseph (Genesis 41:39). WISDOM. Hebrew. _sakal._ See note on Proverbs 1:2. SHALL BE DESPISED. Illustrations: Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 2:17; 1 Samuel 2:30); Nabal (1 Samuel 25:2; 1 Samuel 25:17. Compare Proverbs 28:6);

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;...

12:8 wisdom; (c-8) _ Sachal_ . see Note k, ch. 1.3....

4. A CROWN, etc.] Possibly there may be a reference to the crown worn on their wedding-day by bride and bridegroom (Song of Solomon 3:11; Song of Solomon 8:9). In Damascus the bridal crown consists of a silver hoop covered with a network of strings of corals. On this net are fastened strings of gold coins....

LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 12 V1 A person who loves knowledge will accept correction. Only a stupid person hates correction. V2 God is kind to a good man. God punishes a man who plots to do evil things. V3 An evil man never has security. A good man’s life makes him strong....