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Proverbs 18:12 - Pride vs Humility.

CONTENT; Whats in the verse; 
Translations; Paraphrase; Word Study:  

Proverbs 18:12 (NKJV) Before destruction the 
heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is 
humility.  

Proverbs 18:12 (NIV) Before his downfall a 
man's heart is proud, but humility comes before 
honor. 

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV) Before destruction a 
mans heart is haughty, but humility comes before 
honor.  

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT) Haughtiness goes before 
destruction; humility precedes honor.  

Proverbs 18:12 (NCV) Proud people will be 
ruined, but the humble will be honored. 

Proverbs 18:12 (TEV) No one is respected 
unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way 
to ruin. 

Proverbs 18:12 (CWR) Pride precedes a 
mans fall, but before honor comes humility. 

Proverbs 18:12 (TLB) Pride ends in 
destruction; humility ends in honor. 

CONTEXT; Whats around the verse; 
Overview; Topic: 

The Proverbs of Solomon  (10:1-22:16)
The major collection attributed to Solomon  
(10:1-22:16) 
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

CROSS REFERENCES; Whats in verses 
elsewhere. 

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) Pride goeth before 
destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  

Proverbs 29:23 (KJV) A man's pride shall 
bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble 
in spirit.  

Luke 14:11 (KJV) For whosoever exalteth 
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth 
himself shall be exalted.  

1 Peter 5:5 (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, 
submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you 
be subject one to another, and be clothed with 
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth 
grace to the humble.  

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) When pride cometh, then 
cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.  

Ezekiel 16:49-50 (KJV) Behold, this was the 
iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of 
bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in 
her daughters, neither did she strengthen the 
hand of the poor and needy. [50] And they were 
haughty, and committed abomination before me: 
therefore I took them away as I saw good.  

Ezekiel 28:2 (KJV) Son of man, say unto the 
prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because 
thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am 
a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst 
of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, 
though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:  

COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The 
Head To The Heart 
What is God teaching here? What does it 
teach about Jesus? 

The proud attitude heads the list of seven 
things God hates (6:16-17). [Life Application SB] 

Since destruction is the natural consequence 
of sin, and pride is the basic sin, it is to be 
expected that mens hearts should reach the heights 
of haughtiness before the consequences of sin 
overtake them. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

The way to honor is through humility. The 
humility and exaltation of Jesus provides the classic 
example of this truth.  [Expositors Bible 
Commentary] 

Wisdom also comes with humility (11:2; 
13:10). [NIV SB] 

It is an old and common saying, that 
coming events cast their shadows before them; 
the wise man teaches us that a haughty heart is 
the prophetic prelude of evil. Pride is as 
safely the sign of destruction as the change of 
mercury in the weather-glass is the sign of rain; 
and far more infallibly so than that. When men 
have ridden the high horse, destruction has 
always overtaken them. Let Davids aching heart 
show that there is an eclipse of a mans glory 
when he dotes upon his own greatness. 2 Sam. 
24:10. See Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty builder of 
Babylon, creeping on the earth, devouring grass like 
oxen, until his nails had grown like birds 
claws, and his hair like eagles feathers. Dan. 
4:33. Pride made the boaster a beast, as once 
before it made an angel a devil. God hates high 
looks, and never fails to bring them down. All the 
arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts. O 
Christian, is thine heart haughty this evening? For 
pride can get into the Christians heart as well 
as into the sinners; it can delude him into 
dreaming that he is rich and increased in goods, 
and hath need of nothing. Art thou glorying 
in thy graces or thy talents? Art thou proud of 
thyself, that thou hast had holy frames and sweet 
experiences? Mark thee, reader, there is a destruction 
coming to thee also. Thy flaunting poppies of 
self-conceit will be pulled up by the roots, thy mushroom 
graces will wither in the burning heat, and thy 
self-sufficiency shall become as straw for the dunghill. If 
we forget to live at the foot of the cross in 
deepest lowliness of spirit, God will not forget to 
make us smart under his rod. Wherefore, He 
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 
Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon 

   What is it that keeps you from seeing 
yourself as you really are, others from seeing you as 
you wish you really were, and God from helping 
you become what you would really like to be?  
   As you ponder that riddle, take a look at 
the lesson contained in 18:12. (It's so 
important, you'll find it also in 16:18-19.)  
   Pride"in yourself, your possessions, 
your abilities"brings destruction. 
Humility"before God, before others, before yourself"brings 
honor. God delights in raising up the lowly (3:34), 
but He despises the proud (6:16-17; 16:5). A 
proud person fights himself (8:36), others 
(13:10), and God (16:5), and eventually his end is 
destruction. Just as pride caused Lucifer to want to be 
greater than God (Isaiah 14:12-14), resulting in 
condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6), so pride can ruin your 
life. 
   Look for opportunities today to exercise 
humility instead of pride. Nothing is as hard to do 
gracefully as getting down off your high-horse"and 
nothing is as necessary! Look for one person whose 
needs and interests you can place above your own 
today. Go out of your way to express a word of 
sincere appreciation. Remember, all you have and are 
is given to you by God (1 Corinthians 4:7). 
   And if you had trouble with the riddle, 
remember that pride covers your own sins; pride 
obscures the view of others; and pride hinders 
service for God! [Your Daily Walk SB & Daily Walk 
Bible SB] 

When we are filled with pride, we cannot see 
our weaknesses. We build a wall of denial that 
is almost impregnable. And if we cannot admit 
our faults, they will never be corrected, and we 
will suffer the consequences. On the other hand, 
humility opens the door for correction. When we 
honestly evaluate our life, we open our eyes to our 
weaknesses and can then take steps to improve and 
correct things. This may cause us some pain now, but 
it will be much more bearable than the pain of 
a life destroyed by dependencies and 
compulsions. [Life Recovery SB] 

The yoke of the Lord Jesus will never fit on 
a stiff neck. [Your Daily Walk SB & Daily Walk 
Bible SB] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Proverbs 18:12 - Pride vs. Humility.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120703-0939.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657