Proverbs 18:12

“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, etc.] Lifted up with his riches. Rich men are apt to be highminded, and therefore are to be charged and cautioned against it; they are apt to look above their poor neighbours, and with contempt upon them; and very often this haughtiness of theirs is a presage of their ruin and destruction: and those haughty airs are put on from the pride of their hearts, when a “breach” is near, as the wordf526 signifies, or when they are ready to break; however, their haughty spirits are, sooner or later, humbled by one distressing providence or another; (see <201618>Proverbs 16:18); and before honour [is] humility; (see Gill on “<201533>Proverbs 15:33”).”

“(Compare Pro 15:33; Pro 16:18).”

“Before - In the sense of priority of time. return to 'Top of Page'”

“18:12 Haughtiness cultivates pride. It leads to failure because it does not allow for change in the face of criticism. Humility learns from others and leads to the honor of success.”

“destruction: Pro 11:2, Pro 16:18, Pro 29:23; Eze 16:49, Eze 16:50, Eze 28:2, Eze 28:9; Dan 5:23, Dan 5:24; Act 12:21-23 and: Pro 15:33; Job 42:6-17; Isa 6:5-13; Dan 9:20, Dan 9:23; Luk 14:11; Pe1 5:5 Proverbs 18:13”

“We place together Pro 18:12-19, in which the figure of a secure fortress returns: Pro 18:12 This proverb is connected with the preceding of the rich man who trusts in his mammon. Before destruction the heat of man is haughty; And humility goeth before honour. Line first is a variation of Pro 16:18, and line second is similar to Pro 15:33. Pro 18:13 13 If one giveth an answer before he heareth, It is to him as folly and shame. The part. stands here differently from what it does at Pro 13:18, where it is subj., and at Pro 17:14, where it is pred. of a simple sentence; it is also here, along with what appertains to it in accordance with the Semitic idiom, subj. to 13b (one who answers ... is…”