12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Note, 1. Pride is the presage of ruin, and ruin will at last be the punishment of pride; for before destruction men are commonly so infatuated by the just judgment of God that they are more haughty than ever, that their ruin may be the sorer and the more surprising. Of, if that do not always hold, yet after the heart has been lifted up with pride, a fall comes, Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 16:18. 2. Humility is the presage of honour and prepares men for it, and honour shall at length be the reward of humility, as he had said before, Proverbs 15:33 Proverbs 15:33. That has need to be often said which men are so loth to believe.