Proverbs 12:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.

NIV: No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

NASB: No harm happens to the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.

CSB: No disaster overcomes the righteous, but the wicked are full of misery.

NLT: No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

KJV: There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

NKJV: No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

Each passage of the Bible fits into a particular genre, or literary style. The book of Proverbs contains statements which are exactly that: "proverbs," which are general purpose statements of common sense. These are meant to be understood in that sense of broad, typical observation. Scripture notes very clearly that evil people sometimes achieve access (Psalm 73:2–3) and that good people can be stricken with hardship (Psalm 22:1; Habakkuk 1:2–4). Proverbs also notes, however, that the "righteous" who honor God put themselves at much less risk of such consequences than those who dabble in evil (Proverbs 6:27–28; 11:8).

Certainly, godly people experience disaster. Like others, they have trials. They know firsthand what it is to experience illness, loss of property, and loss of loved ones. A tornado may destroy their home. Financial loss may severely reduce their income. However, they do not face calamity alone. The Lord is with them in every trial, supplying grace, strength, and hope. The patriarch Job experienced numerous hard trials (Job 1:12; 2:6–7), but he possessed the secure hope of resurrection and seeing the Lord someday (Job 19:25). Eventually, the trials ended, and the Lord blessed Job with twice as much as he had before hardship struck (Job 42:10). The wicked lack the comforting presence of the Lord when they encounter trials, and they do not have an eternal hope (Proverbs 11:7).

Proverbs 12:12–23 continues Solomon's contrast of a wise righteous person and a wicked fool. In this segment, he focuses mainly on their different speech patterns. He points out that the words of a liar are an abomination to the Lord, whereas the Lord delights in the words of a wise person.

Proverbs 12 contains a series of contrasts between lifestyles, comparing those who honor God to those who reject His wisdom. The results of those decisions are also compared. This repeats several common themes from the book of Proverbs, such as the self-destructive nature of sin and God's distaste for those who lie.

Proverbs 12 continues Solomon's wise sayings. A large portion of the book of Proverbs includes these short, common sense pieces of advice. After a series of introductions and lessons in chapters 1—9, chapter 10 began a long list of individual statements. In this chapter he continues to contrast the righteous and the wicked, showing that the life of the righteous is far better than the life of the wicked. This pattern will continue, covering the same basic theme, through chapter 15.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.