12:1 The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates reproof is stupid.
The one who possesses strong Bible doctrine desires to stay on the correct path. Those who hate Bible doctrine are spiritually stupid. They cannot make divine-viewpoint decisions. They can only make human-viewpoint decisions, which aid the satanic world system.
12:2 A good person obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a person with wicked schemes.
A righteous man has God in his corner. He is protected by God’s goodness and sovereignty. The wicked man is declared guilty by the Eternal Judge. He will not be eternally successful in fulfilling his evil desires.
12:3 No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.
Everyone in Israel wanted to be established permanently in their land. The Mosaic Covenant promised security in their land for obedience, but removal from their land for disobedience.
12:4 A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.
A wife of noble character is a crown on her husband’s head. An immoral wife decays the bones of her husband and turns them into rotten filth.
12:5 The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The plans of the righteous are to bring others into God’s kingdom. The plans of the wicked are to prosper individually in the satanic world system.
12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.
The wicked exist on this earth to destroy the godly with their words. Those with strong Bible doctrine will see through these lil schemes and offer deliverance.
12:7 The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.
When the wicked attempt to overthrow the righteous, then they will end up destroying themselves. Their own traps will ensnare them. The house of the righteous is secure.
12:8 A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.
Those with sound Bible doctrine will be praised, but those who are possess and evil mind will be despised.
12:9 Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.
It is better to be a nobody than it is to pretend that one is a somebody and yet be starving. What good is this claim if one cannot place food upon the table? How can one be a somebody when one is starving to death?
12:10 A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.
Beware of a person who is cruel to animals. He will be cruel to people as well.
12:11 The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.
Hard work on the farm results in plenty of food for the family. Day dreamers cannot eat their dreams or feed their family.
12:12 The wicked person desires a stronghold, but the righteous root endures.
A wicked person wants what others possess. The righteous is secure with his own belongings.
12:13 The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.
Evil people ensnare themselves by their own words. A righteous person does not entangle himself with his own words.
12:14 A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.
The fruit of one’s lips are his words. The words which emphasize strong Bible doctrine will produce good fruit. Good words are just as beneficial and prosperous as manual labor.
12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.
The fool thinks that he is right and everyone else is wrong.
Atheists are fools, because they think that nothing exploded into everything.
Agnostics are fools, because they see the wonders of God’s creation everyday, but they claim that God did not give them enough evidence to believe in Him.
Evolutionists are fools, because the think that Jesus evolved from a monkey.
Secular humanists are fools, because they have rejected God and swallowed the teachings of the satanic world system.
Liberals are fools, because they elevate their own human opinions above the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God.
Feminists are fools, because they ignore the biblical view of women. Instead, they degrade themselves by becoming like men.
Members of cults and isms are fools, because they teach that Jesus is less than deity and a salvation system can be obtained by works.
12:16 A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.
A fool is annoyed with Bible doctrine, so he will not receive divine instruction. A wise man is not annoyed with an insult, because he controls his reaction, or he simply forgives the person who voices the insult.
12:17 The faithful witness tells what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
Those with strong Bible doctrine will be reliable witnesses in a court of law. Those without strong Bible doctrine will take care of themselves and condemn an innocent man in court.
12:18 Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.
Reckless words are those which are spoken without much thought and without sound Bible doctrine. Once reckless words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. The damage is done. Kind, compassionate, and encouraging words spoken with much thought (and sound Bible doctrine) can heal a wounded person.
12:19 The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.
Honest truth is beneficial to those who hear it. Bible doctrine may not be what one wants to hear, but it is the honest truth. This moment of truth can change a person’s destiny for eternity.
Lies have the opposite effect. The devil was “the father of lies.” Lies build up the satanic kingdom.
12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
The Hebrew word for “peace” is שָׁל֣וֹם (shalom), meaning peace with God. The wicked use deceit to plot evil, but those who promote שָׁל֣וֹם (shalom) will have joy in this life and the next.
12:21 The righteous do not encounter any harm, but the wicked are filled with calamity.
The righteous will be divinely protected. Just as Job had a fence around him to protect him from Satan himself, every believer possesses a shield as well. The wicked are not protected by this divine shield. They are protected by their father, the devil. When he is through with them, then he removes the shield and discards them. He will allow them to suffer with him in the Lake of Fire for eternity.
12:22 The Lord abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.
The Lord hates liars, but loves those who tell the truth.
12:23 The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people publicize folly.
Those who do not possess strong Bible doctrine will not share their knowledge with others. They will share foolish philosophies of the satanic world system and think that they are wise. Those who master Bible doctrine cannot wait to share their knowledge with others.
12:24 The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will become a slave.
Hard working people will become the bosses of those who are lazy.
12:25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.
Modern psychology has learned and taught that stress and anxiety weigh a man down. A person worries, because his Bible doctrine is weak. He does not understand that God’s sovereignty is his protection. Nothing can happen to him without God’s consent and pre-planning. If a person does suffer from anxiety and stress, then Bible doctrine can encourage him.
It is important to note that psychologists waste their time with secular methods of the satanic world system. When a patient comes to the psychology couch, he should be told to go back home and study the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level.
12:26 The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
A man with strong Bible doctrine chooses his friends correctly. Wicked men do not care about whom they make their friends. They are going to lead them all astray anyway.
12:27 The lazy person does not roast his prey, but personal possessions are precious to the diligent.
The lazy person hunts some game on his own, but he is too lazy to cook it. A diligent person appreciates what he owns. He knows that everything that he owns comes from the Lord.
12:28 In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death.
Righteousness men live eternally with God, while evil men who reject God will live eternity in the Lake of Fire with the one who deceived them.