13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
13 The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble; the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.
13 The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
16 That's what happens: mischief backfires; violence boomerangs.
16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
16 The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.
(Read Psalm 7:10-17)
David is confident that he shall find God his powerful Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their conversion; for it is threatened, If he turn not from his evil way, let him expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the threatenings of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy. God gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish. The sinner is described, verses 14-16, as taking more pains to ruin his soul than, if directed aright, would save it. This is true, in a sense, of all sinners. Let us look to the Saviour under all our trials. Blessed Lord, give us grace to look to thee in the path of tribulation, going before thy church and people, and marking the way by thine own spotless example. Under all the persecutions which in our lesser trials mark our way, let the looking to Jesus animate our minds and comfort our hearts.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.
17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
17 The wicked bought a one-way ticket to hell.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
17 The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
(Read Psalm 9:11-20)
Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 12:13
Commentary on Proverbs 12:13
(Read Proverbs 12:13)
Many a man has paid dear in this world for the transgression of his lips.