Proverbs 27:12

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 27:12

A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil
(See Gill on Proverbs 22:3); or "seeth the evil" ^F6; the evil of sin, as it is contrary to the nature, will, and law and abominable in his sight; and not only the evil of gross actions of sin, but of indwelling lust; and such an one, who is wise to that which is good, sees the sad work sin has made in the world, and in himself; how it has defaced the image of God in man, stripped him of his righteousness, and defiled all the powers and faculties of his soul; upon which sight of it he is filled with shame, reflects upon himself for his past conduct, loathes sin, and himself for it, repents of it, confesses and forsakes it: he likewise sees the evil of punishment for sin, the just demerit of it, the curse of the law, the wrath of God, the second and eternal death, a separation from God, a sense and feeling of divine vengeance, anguish, and distress intolerable, and that for ever;

[and] hideth himself;
not in secret places, that he may not be seen by the Lord; nor in his own works of righteousness, to secure him from the wrath of God: nor is it to he understood of his hiding himself from sinners and their company, and so escaping the pollutions of the world; but of his betaking himself to Christ, who is the city of refuge, the stronghold, the rock, in the clefts of which the people of God hide themselves; even in his wounds, or in him as a suffering crucified Saviour, and who is the hiding place from the wind, and covert from the storm of divine wrath; such are redemption by him, his sacrifice and satisfaction, his blood and righteousness, and intercession; see ( Isaiah 32:2 ) ; also (See Gill on Proverbs 22:3);

[but] the simple pass on, [and] are punished;
such who are thoughtless and foolish, have no sight nor sense of sin and danger, go on in their sinful course of life without any care or concern, without any fear or dread, till their feet stumble on the dark mountains of eternity; and they fall into the bottomless pit of perdition, from whence there is no recovery.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (har) "videns", V. L. Tigurine version, Piscator; "vidit", Pagninus, Montanus; "videt", Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Schultens.

Proverbs 27:12 In-Context

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "simple"