Bridges on Proverbs 12:13
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 12:13
 
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13.  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. {The wicked...: Heb. The snare of the wicked is in the transgression of lips}
 
We have seen the intense desire of the wicked to snare others in the net. Here he is snared himself: The transgressions of his lips become the snare of his life. (Chapter 18:7. Psalm 64:8.) ‘Many have felt the lash upon their backs for the want of a bridle on their tongues.’ Such a snare were the lips of the Amalekite bringing the tidings of Saul's death. Expecting a reward, he found his death. (2 Samuel 4:9-12.) Such also was Adonijah's deceitful petition (1 Kings 2:22, 23); the hypocritical loyalty of Daniel's enemies (Daniel 6:7, 8, 24); the fearful imprecation of the devoted nation. (Matthew 27:25.) The lips of the wicked miss their mark, and become the instruments of his ruin. (Psalm 35:8.)
On the other hand, the godly exercise of the lips often delivers out of the trouble, into which the wicked rush headlong. (Jeremiah 26:12-16.) The noble confession of Caleb and Joshua brought them safe out of the trouble, which was frowning upon their rebellious brethren. (Numbers 14:6-10, 24.) And even when the just “are overtaken with” a transgression of the lips, still their faithful God makes a difference. He will not indeed wink at sin in his own children. (Amos 3:2.) But while his covenant provides stripes for their transgressions, it ensures deliverance in the end. (Psalm 89:32, 33.) Thus a presumptuous confidence is restrained; and a humbling, self-abasing, tender confidence is established.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 18:7
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
 
Psalm 64:8
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
 
 
Footnote:
 
 
2 Samuel 4:9-12
9 ¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: {thinking...: Heb. he was in his own eyes as a bringer, etc} {who...: or, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings} 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? 12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
 
 
1 Kings 2:22, 23
22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. 23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
 
 
Daniel 6:7, 8, 24
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. {decree: or, interdict} 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. {altereth not: Chaldee, passeth not} 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
 
 
Matthew 27:25
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
 
 
Psalm 35:8
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. {at...: Heb. which he knoweth not of}
 
 
Jeremiah 26:12-16
12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. 14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. {as...: Heb. as it is good and right in your eyes} 15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. 16 ¶ Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
 
 
Numbers 14:6-10, 24
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. {defence: Heb. shadow} 10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
 
 
Amos 3:2
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. {punish: Heb. visit upon}
 
 
Psalm 89:32, 33
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. {will...: Heb. I will not make void from him} {to fall: Heb. to lie}