It may seem that when the Proverbs speak of the practical return from a righteous way of life, they emphasize...
It may seem that when the Proverbs speak of the practical return from a righteous way of life, they emphasize earthly gain. The righteous person is indeed promised prosperity, praise from others, a harvest and other joys, but it is stressed that none of these is an end in itself; they are the consequence of wisdom and righteousness, which are interconnected. Yet neither wisdom nor righteousness lies about in the street waiting to be picked up. They come from within and are connected with the ability to listen to oneself and another person, to exercise self-control and not to exalt oneself. These are not abstractions imposed from outside, but realities that act upon a person. For the same reason, falsehood, for example, is more than an incorrect statement: it leads away from God and destroys relationships between people, as well as the person subject to this vice.
Following the path of wisdom is not only righteous, but can also bring practical benefit, though only when benefit is not one's first priority. Whoever chases gain risks not obtaining it and, even after achieving it, may destroy himself.
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12:6 Lie in wait - Are designed to entrap others, and to destroy them.Deliver them - From those that lie in wait for them.
12:7 Are not - Both they and their families suddenly perish.
12:9 Despised - That lives in a mean condition. Honoureth - That glories in his high birth or gay attire.
12:10 Regardeth - He will not destroy it either by labour beyond its strength, or by denying it necessary food or rest. Cruel - There is cruelty mixed even with their most merciful actions.
12:11 Tilleth - That employs his time in an honest calling.Vain persons - In an idle course of living.
12:12 Desireth - He approves those arts, which wicked men use like nets to ensnare other men. The root - That piety, which is the root of his actions, yields him sufficient fruit both for his own need, and to do good to others.
12:14 Mouth - By his pious and profitable discourses. Hands - Of his actions.
12:15 Hearkeneth - That distrusts his own judgments, and seeks counsel from others.
12:16 Covereth - The shame, or injury done to him, which he conceals and bears with patience.
12:17 Deceit - He who uses himself to lying in his common talk, will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.
12:18 Health - Tends to the comfort and benefit of others.
12:19 A moment - Liars, though they may make a fair shew for a season, yet are quickly convicted.
12:20 Deceit - They whose hearts devise mischief shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring trouble upon themselves: but they who by good counsels labour to promote peace, shall reap the comfort of it themselves.
12:23 Concealeth - He does not unseasonably utter what he knows.Foolishness - Betrays his ignorance and folly.
12:25 A good word - A compassionate or encouraging word.
12:26 Neighbour - Than any other men. Seduceth - Heb. maketh them to err, to lose that excellency or happiness which they had promised themselves.
12:27 Resteth not - Does not enjoy the fruit of his labours.Precious - Yields him comfort and blessing with it.