Proverbs 18:12
New International Version
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

New Living Translation
Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

English Standard Version
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Berean Standard Bible
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

King James Bible
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

New King James Version
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

New American Standard Bible
Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

NASB 1995
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

NASB 1977
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

Legacy Standard Bible
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before glory.

Amplified Bible
Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance, But humility comes before honor.

Christian Standard Bible
Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

American Standard Version
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.

Contemporary English Version
Pride leads to destruction; humility leads to honor.

English Revised Version
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour goeth humility.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Before destruction a person's heart is arrogant, but humility comes before honor.

Good News Translation
No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin.

International Standard Version
Before a man's downfall, his mind is arrogant, but humility precedes honor.

Majority Standard Bible
Before his downfall a man?s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

NET Bible
Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.

New Heart English Bible
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Webster's Bible Translation
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

World English Bible
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The heart of man is high before destruction, "" And humility [is] before honor.

Young's Literal Translation
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour is humility.

Smith's Literal Translation
Before a breaking a man's heart will be lifted up, and before honor, humility.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.

New American Bible
Before disaster the heart is haughty, but before honor is humility.

New Revised Standard Version
Before destruction one’s heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty; and before honor is humility.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Before ruin, the heart of a man will be lifted up, and before honor is humility.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honour goeth humility.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honour it is humble.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. 12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. 13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.…

Cross References
James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 2:11-12
The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. / For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Daniel 4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Ezekiel 28:17
Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor; so I cast you to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.

1 Samuel 2:3
Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.


Treasury of Scripture

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

destruction

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

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

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

and

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

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Destruction Downfall Full Gentle Goes Haughty Heart High Honor Honour Humility Pride Proud Spirit
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Destruction Downfall Full Gentle Goes Haughty Heart High Honor Honour Humility Pride Proud Spirit
Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














Before his downfall
The phrase "before his downfall" suggests a sequence of events that is almost inevitable. The Hebrew word for "downfall" is "shever," which can mean a breaking or destruction. This implies a significant and often sudden collapse. Historically, the Bible is replete with examples of individuals whose pride led to their downfall, such as King Saul and Nebuchadnezzar. The wisdom literature of the Bible often warns of the dangers of pride, indicating that it sets the stage for one's own ruin.

a man’s heart is proud
The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. The Hebrew word for "proud" is "gavah," which conveys a sense of being high or exalted. Pride is seen as an internal condition that precedes external actions. In a conservative Christian perspective, pride is considered the original sin, as it was pride that led to Lucifer's fall. The heart's pride is a spiritual condition that blinds individuals to their need for God and others, leading them to rely on their own strength and wisdom.

but humility
"Humility" is translated from the Hebrew word "anavah," which means modesty or lowliness. In the biblical context, humility is not self-deprecation but a proper understanding of one's position before God. It is the recognition of one's limitations and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Humility is a virtue that is highly esteemed in Scripture, as seen in the lives of Moses and Jesus, who are described as humble leaders. In the conservative Christian tradition, humility is the antidote to pride and is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.

comes before honor
The phrase "comes before honor" indicates a divine principle of exaltation following humility. The Hebrew word for "honor" is "kavod," which signifies glory, respect, or weightiness. In the biblical narrative, honor is often bestowed by God as a reward for humility and faithfulness. Joseph, for example, was honored in Egypt after enduring trials with humility. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches that those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). From a conservative Christian viewpoint, true honor is not self-attained but is granted by God to those who walk humbly with Him.

Verse 12. - (Comp. Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 15:33; where the maxims are found in almost the same words.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Before
לִפְנֵי־ (lip̄·nê·še-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

his downfall
שֶׁ֭בֶר (ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7667: A breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

a man’s
אִ֑ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

heart
לֵב־ (lêḇ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

is proud,
יִגְבַּ֣הּ (yiḡ·bah)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1361: To soar, be lofty, to be haughty

but humility
עֲנָוָֽה׃ (‘ă·nā·wāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6038: Condescension

comes before
וְלִפְנֵ֖י (wə·lip̄·nê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

honor.
כָב֣וֹד (ḵā·ḇō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man (Prov. Pro Pr)
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