6 The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me take out twelve thousand men and this very night I will go after David: And I will come up with him when he is tired and feeble, and make him full of fear: and all the people with him will go in flight; and I will make an attack on the king only: And I will make all the people come back to you as a bride comes back to her husband: it is the life of only one man you are going after; so all the people will be at peace. And the saying was pleasing to Absalom and to the responsible men of Israel.
And Mordecai gave him an account of what had taken place, and of the amount of money which Haman had said he would put into the king's store for the destruction of the Jews. And he gave him the copy of the order which had been given out in Shushan for their destruction, ordering him to let Esther see it, and to make it clear to her; and to say to her that she was to go in to the king, requesting his mercy, and making prayer for her people. And Hathach came back and gave Esther an account of what Mordecai had said. Then Esther sent Hathach to say to Mordecai: It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death; only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives: but I have not been sent for to come before the king these thirty days. And they said these words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews. If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?
For we are given up, I and my people, to destruction and death and to be cut off. If we had been taken as men-servants and women-servants for a price, I would have said nothing, for our trouble is little in comparison with the king's loss. Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, Who is he and where is he who has had this evil thought in his heart? And Esther said, Our hater and attacker is this evil Haman. Then Haman was full of fear before the king and the queen.
If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause; Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death; Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth; Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag: My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways: For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life. Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird: And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves. Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.
Sorrow is mine! for I am as when they have got in the summer fruits, like the last of the grapes: there is nothing for food, not even an early fig for my desire. The good man is gone from the earth, there is no one upright among men: they are all waiting secretly for blood, every man is going after his brother with a net.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 12
Commentary on Proverbs 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
Pro 12:1
We are here taught to try whether we have grace or no by enquiring how we stand affected to the means of grace.
Pro 12:2
Note,
Pro 12:3
Note,
Pro 12:4
Note,
Pro 12:5
Note,
Pro 12:6
In the foregoing verse the thoughts of the wicked and righteous were compared; here their words, and those are as the abundance of the heart is.
Pro 12:7
We are here taught as before (v. 3 and ch. 10:25, 30),
Pro 12:8
We are here told whence to expect a good name. Reputation is what most have a high regard to and stand much upon. Now it is certain,
Pro 12:9
Note,
Pro 12:10
See here,
Pro 12:11
Note,
Pro 12:12
See here,
Pro 12:13
See here,
Pro 12:14
We are here assured, for our quickening to every good word and work,
Pro 12:15
See here,
Pro 12:16
Note,
Pro 12:17
Here is,
Pro 12:18
The tongue is death or life, poison or medicine, as it is used.
Pro 12:19
Be it observed, to the honour of truth, that sacred thing,
Pro 12:20
Note,
Pro 12:21
Note,
Pro 12:22
We are here taught,
Pro 12:23
Note,
Pro 12:24
Note,
Pro 12:25
Here is,
Pro 12:26
See here,
Pro 12:27
Here is,
Pro 12:28
The way of religion is here recommended to us,