Bible/Proverbs/12

Proverbs 12:21

12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

KJV

Save image

No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

What does Proverbs 12:21 mean?

Proverbs 12:21 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָוֶן (ʼâven), אָנָה (ʼânâh), צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
There
shall
no
evilאָוֶןʼâven/aw-ven'/H205strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
happenאָנָהʼânâh/aw-naw'/H579to approach; hence, to meet in various senses
to
the
just:צַדִּיקtsaddîyq/tsad-deek'/H6662just
but
the
wickedרָשָׁעrâshâʻ/raw-shaw'/H7563morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
shall
be
filledמָלֵאmâlêʼ/maw-lay'/H4390to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
with
mischief.רַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

Commentary on Proverbs 12:21

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 12:21
l be filled with mischief. Note, 1. Piety is a sure protection. If men be sincerely righteous, the righteous God has engaged that no evil shall happen to them. He will, by the power of his grace in them, that principle of justice, keep them from the evil of sin; so that, though they be tempted, yet they shall not be overcome by the temptation, and though they may come into trouble, into many troubles, yet to them those troubles shall have no evil in them, whatever they have to others ( Ps. xci. 10 ), for they shall be overruled to work for their good. 2. Wickedness is as sure a destruction. Those that live in contempt of God and man, that are set on mischief, with mischief they shall be filled. They shall be more mischievous, shall be filled with all unrighteousness, Rom. i. 29 . Or they shall be made miserable with the mischiefs that shall come upon them. Those that delight in mischief shall have enough of it. Some read the whole verse thus, There shall no evil happen to the just, though the wicked be filled with mischief and spite against them. They shall be safe under the protection of Heaven, though hell itself break loose upon them. 22 Lying lips are abomination to the

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Kings 22:21

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

1 Kings 22:22

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Job 1:12

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. power: Heb. hand

Job 2:6

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. but: or, only

Job 2:7

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Job 20:23

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

Proverbs 11:6

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

Isaiah 42:25

Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Lamentations 4:11

The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Romans 2:8

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Romans 2:9

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; Gentile: Gr. Greek

Topics

Sin (1)Wicked

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 12:21.

1 Kings 8:32

Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

2 Chronicles 6:23

Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

2 Samuel 4:11

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

Deuteronomy 25:1

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Exodus 23:7

Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

Exodus 9:27

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Genesis 18:23

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:25

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 12:21 say?

Proverbs 12:21 (King James Version) reads: "There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief."

Is Proverbs 12:21 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 12:21 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 12:21, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Proverbs 12:21
12:20Read all of Proverbs 1212:22