Proverbs 12

12:4 Elsewhere in Proverbs a crown symbolizes wealth (14:24), long life (16:31), and grandchildren (17:6). • cancer (literally rot): A disgraceful wife is a deep and life-threatening problem.

12:7 The wicked might prosper momentarily, but they do not last. The family of the godly stands firm for generations.

12:8 To be sensible means to act only after reflecting on the consequences. A warped mind acts on impulse.

12:9 Reality is more important than appearance.

12:11 This proverb is repeated but with a different conclusion in 28:19.

12:12 The instability of thieves can produce violent behavior at any moment. By contrast, the godly are well rooted: Their relationships are stable even under duress.

12:15 Fools fail to realize what the wise know—that listening is the way to learn.

12:16 Keeping a level head allows a wise person to think clearly and avoid reactions that could cause a fight.

12:17 The message of this proverb is repeated in 14:5.