Proverbs 12:12 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. The wicked desireth the net of evil (men): but the root of the righteous yieldeth (fruit). The wicked man (Hebrew, raashaa` (H7563), the restlessly wicked, the godless) desireth to have the net of evil men (rang, the evil, in general); namely, to have the cunning whereby they ensnare victims; or rather, to take in their net evil men: the wicked seek to take advantage of one another: so Gesenius. The godless are not satisfied with the abundance that they have, but thirst for more. The Hebrew for "net" х mªtsowd (H4685)] means also a fortress (Ecclesiastes 9:14). Maurer therefore translates, 'The godless desireth the defense of evil men (against the dangers which he fears. Proverbs 10:24).' He thinks, by combinations among the evil for mutual defense, to escape punishment. 'But the root (i:e., the firmly rooted stability) of the righteous yields it'-namely, defense of itself, without need of confederacy with others. The English version has the support of the Chaldaic Targum for "net;" and virtually of the Syriac for "yieldeth fruit" (Germinabit): so DeWette. Compare also Proverbs 12:14, which confirms it. Thus, the righteous yielding their own fruit, for the good of others as well as themselves stand in contrast to the wicked desiring to entrap in their net other evil men, so as to gain their goods. The wicked seek their good from without; the righteous have it within, their own root, deep and firmly sunk, supplying it.