A Comparison Between The Righteous And The Unrighteous, The Basis Of The Righteous Family, And The Destiny Of Each (Proverbs 12:1-8).
We have here another subsection in which the various attributes of the righteous are commended, with the unrighteous (the wicked) being revealed as what they are. The righteous man loves correction because he loves the true knowledge of God, he will thereby obtain favour from YHWH, and consequently his root will not be moved (he will not be cast out of the land - Proverbs 1:33; Proverbs 2:22; Proverbs 10:30). If his wife is worthy she is like a crown to him, making him master of his house, his thoughts are just, what he says will deliver him, his house will stand, and he will be commended for his wisdom. In contrast the unrighteous hates reproof and thinks irrationally, will engage in wicked devices and be condemned, his wife will make her husband ashamed, he will not be established, will give deceitful counsel, will speak of violence and forceful behaviour, will be overthrown and cease to be, and will be despised.
It can again be presented chiastically:
A Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is brutish (thinks and behaves irrationally) (Proverbs 12:1).
B A good man will obtain favour of YHWH, but a man of wicked devices will he condemned (Proverbs 12:2).
C A man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved (Proverbs 12:3).
D A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but she who makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones (Proverbs 12:4).
D The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the counsels of the wicked are deceit (Proverbs 12:5).
C The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright will deliver them (Proverbs 12:6).
B The wicked are overthrown, and are not, but the house of the righteous will stand (Proverbs 12:7).
A A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised (Proverbs 12:8).
Note that in A the one who loves correction, loves knowledge, while the one who hates reproof is little better than an animal, whilst in the parallel a man is commended for his wisdom (synonymous with knowledge) and the perverse heart is despised. In B a good man obtains YHWH's favour, and a man of evil devices will be condemned, whilst in the parallel the house of the righteous stands, (because he has YHWH's favour), whilst the wicked are overthrown. In C a man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will stand firm, it will not be moved, and in the parallel that wickedness is defined, whilst the mouth of the upright delivers them (so they will not be moved). Centrally in D the worthy woman supplements her righteous husband, being herself righteous, and instils righteous thoughts in her children (Proverbs 1:8-9), whilst the wife, who should be counselling her children knowledgeably, but instead brings shame, is like rottenness within (teaching what is false) in the same way as the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
‘Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is brutish.'
The one who loves correction (disciplinary instruction) reveals himself as a lover of the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5), and indeed of YHWH Himself, for whom YHWH loves He reproves (Proverbs 3:12). Thereby men reveal that they choose the fear of YHWH (Proverbs 1:29). The aim of such disciplinary instruction is to guide young persons in the right way as inculcated by their godly father and mother (Proverbs 1:8). And by it they come to understand the reverent fear of YHWH and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5). Such persons would be commended in accordance with their wisdom (Proverbs 12:8). In the words of Proverbs 10:14, ‘wise men store up knowledge (the knowledge of God)'.
In direct contrast is the one who hates reproof. He shakes if off and rebels against it, thereby revealing himself to be more like an animal. He is behaving irrationally. And because of his perverse heart such a person will be despised (Proverbs 12:8). The rebel was very much looked down on in Israelite society because he interfered with the smooth running of life. He did not make his full contribution to the welfare of the family (compare the elder brother and the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32).
‘A good man will obtain favour of YHWH,
But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.'
In consequence of his love of the knowledge of God (Proverbs 12:1) the good man, good because he diligently seeks the knowledge of God, responds to it and makes his full contribution to the wellbeing of the community. By this he will obtain the favour of YHWH (Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 11:27). It is understandable why his house will stand (Proverbs 12:7). In contrast the one who rejects reproof, and follows his own private thoughts, planning evildoing (compare Proverbs 1:11 ff.), will be condemned by YHWH. He will be overthrown and cease to be (Proverbs 12:7). He who thinks and behaves like an animal will die like one.
The good man is epitomised in the elder brother of the above-mentioned parable, who had faithfully carried out his family responsibilities (although somewhat lacking in compassion). The ‘man of wicked devices' is epitomised in the prodigal son. He squandered the family wealth, and thought only of himself. And yet once he had repented God was willing to show him favour. So in view of the mercy of God such a pathway is not irreversible.
‘A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.'
The one who follows the path of evildoing will not thereby be established. He may think that he is securing his future, but in fact he will not be firmly planted, safe and secure (Proverbs 2:22). He will be subject to the varying winds of fortune. His house will not stand (compare Proverbs 12:7). In the time of trouble he will not be delivered (Proverbs 12:6).
In contrast is the righteous. He will be firmly rooted so that he will not be moved by the vicissitudes of life (compare Psalms 1:3; 2 Kings 19:30; Isaiah 27:6). His house will stand (Proverbs 12:7). He will be delivered in the time of trouble (Proverbs 12:6). Such deliverance is a constant theme (Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 11:6; Proverbs 11:8-9; Proverbs 11:21).
‘A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
But she who makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.'
The worthy (strong, capable) woman has been revealed as the one who instructs her children in the Torah (Proverbs 1:8), and who tenderly loves and trains them (Proverbs 4:3). She grieves over their folly (Proverbs 10:1). She ensures that their thoughts are righteous (Proverbs 12:5). She builds up her household (Proverbs 14:1). Thus she makes a full contribution in the rearing of the children in wisdom and knowledge and adds to her husband's status. She is a crown to him, just as his worthy children are a floral wreath of flowers on his head (Proverbs 1:9). She makes him look and feel like a king. The community admire him for his worthy family.
In contrast is the wife who makes her husband ashamed. She neglects the training of her children, does not instruct them in the Torah, and is not over-concerned about their welfare. She gives them bad counsel (Proverbs 12:5). Thus his household begins to rot within and disintegrate, and the community shakes its head.
‘The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.'
The worthy wife enhances her husband whose thoughts are right and just, and her thoughts also are right and just. Her children, who have been brought up to be righteous, grow up to be righteous and just. The whole family are an exemplar of godliness.
In contrast the family brought up by the shameful wife have been left to wallow in dishonesty and deceit. They have been badly advised and ill taught, by both father and mother who are themselves ‘unrighteous'. Their plans for life are false and deceitful, for they follow the inclinations of their hearts which are ‘deceitful above all things and desperately wicked' (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-22). They are an exemplar of unrighteousness. Their very talk is of lying in wait for blood (Proverbs 12:6; compare Proverbs 1:11). They follow wicked devices leading to condemnation (Proverbs 12:2). They will therefore be overthrown and cease to be (Proverbs 12:7).
And this also applies outside the family. The righteous will give wise advice, the advice of the unrighteous will be deceiving. We should be careful from whom we seek advice.
‘The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.'
There is a direct reference here to Proverbs 1:11 which were words spoken by those who were not guided by, or did not respond to the guidance of, godly fathers and mothers (Proverbs 1:8). They were the disreputable and their ways led to death (Proverbs 1:18). They counselled deceit and violence (Proverbs 12:5; Proverbs 1:11-12). They followed wicked devices leading to condemnation (Proverbs 12:2). They have not listened to reproof (Proverbs 12:1). They have no root and will therefore be uprooted (Proverbs 12:3). For them there will be no deliverance.
In contrast are the upright (the straight). They heed correction (Proverbs 12:1) and the training of their mothers (Proverbs 12:4). They are deeply rooted (Proverbs 12:3). Their thoughts are just and right (Proverbs 12:5). And because they are deeply rooted they will be delivered (Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 11:6; Proverbs 11:8-9; Proverbs 11:21) when the storms of life come upon them (Proverbs 1:27; Proverbs 10:25). They will not be moved (Proverbs 12:3).
The special emphasis on ‘the mouth' of the upright looks back to references to words, whether good or bad. Their words are of wisdom which they have received and observed, revealing what is in their hearts (Proverbs 10:31; Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 4:4; Proverbs 7:1). They are a wellspring of life to others (Proverbs 10:11). They know what is acceptable (Proverbs 10:32). They do not have a perverse mouth or a lying tongue, or bear false witness, or cause dissension (Proverbs 6:12; Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 6:19). Thus what they say is heard and believed. Their words make them acceptable to God and man (Proverbs 3:4).
The wicked are overthrown, and are not,
But the house of the righteous will stand.'
The wicked (the unrighteous) have specifically been referred to in Proverbs 12:2; Proverbs 12:5-6. YHWH will condemn their wicked devices (Proverbs 12:2). They practise deceit and violence (Proverbs 12:5-6), which is why they will not be established (Proverbs 12:3). That is why they will be overthrown and ‘are not'. They will pass out of existence and memory. They will become nothings (Proverbs 10:25).
In contrast the house of the righteous will stand, because they have obtained favour from YHWH (Proverbs 12:2). They will be rooted so as never to be moved (Proverbs 12:3). For their house is established on a worthy wife (Proverbs 12:4), and on a righteous husband to whom she is a crown (Proverbs 12:4-5), and has produced worthy seed (Proverbs 11:21).
‘A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.'
This verse sums up the subsection. A man will be commended (by both God and man - Proverbs 3:4) according to his wisdom, as revealed in understanding and behaviour. He will be commended because he has received reproof and loved knowledge (Proverbs 12:1), thus obtaining favour from YHWH (Proverbs 12:2). This is revealed by his just thoughts and his upright words (Proverbs 12:5-6) which make him acceptable to God and to society.
In contrast is the one who is perverse of heart. He has hated reproof and become like an irrational animal (Proverbs 12:1). He plots evil devices (Proverbs 12:2), encourages deceit and fraud (Proverbs 12:5), and talks of violence (Proverbs 12:6). In consequence he will be despised by both God and man.