The Meaning of Proverbs 21:12 Explained

Proverbs 21:12

KJV: The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

YLT: The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

Darby: One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to their ruin.

ASV: The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The righteous  [man] wisely considereth  the house  of the wicked:  [but God] overthroweth  the wicked  for [their] wickedness. 

What does Proverbs 21:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:12 mean?

Wisely considers the righteous [God] the house of the wicked Overthrowing the wicked for [their] wickedness
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע

מַשְׂכִּ֣יל  Wisely  considers 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
צַ֭דִּיק  the  righteous  [God] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
לְבֵ֣ית  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
רָשָׁ֑ע  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
מְסַלֵּ֖ף  Overthrowing 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סָלַף  
Sense: to twist, pervert, distort, overturn, ruin.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
לָרָֽע  for  [their]  wickedness 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.