Proverbs 18:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

NIV: Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

NASB: Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

CSB: Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

NLT: Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

KJV: Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

NKJV: Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

An earlier proverb (Proverbs 16:18) warned about arrogant, self-assured pride setting a person up for the shock of brutal reality. A similar statement was also made in Proverbs 11:2. This completes a trio of verses (Proverbs 18:10–11) which helps the reader correctly assign priorities. God is our only infallible source of strength. Money and personal vanity cannot give us those assurances.

In contrast to arrogance, which sets up a person for failure, humility creates the best conditions for success. Life is uncertain, so no effort is guaranteed to succeed (James 4:13–16). Yet those who humbly seek God's will (Proverbs 1:7; 3:35) and the advice of others (Proverbs 11:14; 18:13, 15, 17) are more likely to achieve their goals.

The apostle Peter learned the truth of Solomon's words. He made a brash, prideful promise to the Lord: that he would never forsake Him even if others did (John 13:36–38). His pride betrayed him. He fled when Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:56) and denied knowing Him to a servant girl and others in the high priest's courtyard who asked (John 18:15–18, 25–27). After Jesus restored Peter following the resurrection, Peter put aside personal pride (John 21:15–19). Yet even as an apostle, Peter sometimes struggled with image and reputation (Galatians 2:11–14).

Paul advised Timothy not to appoint newly converted men to positions of spiritual authority. His concern was that power without trained discernment (Hebrews 5:14) could lead such a person to "become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6). To the contrary, the Lord will honor a humble person. James 4:10 exhorts: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." The counsel of the world is to put yourself ahead of others. Scripture commands a believer to put themselves humbly at the Lord's disposal in the service of others (Philippians 2:3).

This segment of Solomon's wise sayings includes several well-known and often-repeated remarks. Among these are references to God's "name" as a place of safety, the connection between pride and catastrophe, the value of a godly spouse, and the intimate loyalty of a good friend. As in other parts of the book of Proverbs, these teachings are tied to warnings about the consequences of poor decisions.

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.