Proverbs 12 · Verse 26

Proverbs 12:26

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Proverbs 12:26, King James Version

Proverbs 12:26 in other translations

BSBA righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
WEBA righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
ASVThe righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
YLTThe righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
DARBYThe righteous guideth his neighbour; but the way of the wicked misleadeth them.
BBEThe upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them.
WebsterThe righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

What does Proverbs 12:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. more excellent--(Compare Margin); or, "more successful," while the wicked fail; or, we may read it: "The righteous guides his friend, but," &c., that is, The ability of the righteous to aid others is contrasted with the ruin to which the way of the wicked leads themselves.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor - That is, if the neighbor be a wicked man. The spirit of the proverb lies here: The Poor righteous man is more excellent than his sinful neighbor, though affluent and noble. The Syriac has it, "The righteous deviseth good to his neighbor." A late commentator has translated it, "The righteous explore their pastures." How מרעהו can be translated Their pastures I know not; but none of the versions understood it in this way. The Vulgate is rather singular: Qui negligit damnum propter amicum, justus est. "He who neglects or sustains a loss for the sake of his friend, is a just man." The Septuagint is insufferable: "The well-instructed righteous man shall be his own friend." One would hope these translators meant not exclusively; he should love his neighbor as himself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The righteous is abundant; though not in this world's goods, yet in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, which are the true riches. Evil men vainly flatter themselves that their ways are not wrong.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 12:26 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יָתֵ֣רya.Terhe makes a searchH8446
מֵרֵעֵ֣הוּme.re.'E.hufrom friend hisH7453
צַדִּ֑יקtza.Dika righteous [person]H6662
וְדֶ֖רֶךְve.De.rekhand [the] way ofH1870
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
תַּתְעֵֽם\׃tat.'Emit misleads themH8582

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 12:26

  • 1 John 2:26

    These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

  • James 1:13-14

    Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

  • Proverbs 17:27

    He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

  • Matthew 5:46-48

    For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

  • Psalms 18:12-13

    At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

  • 2 Peter 2:18-22

    For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. …

  • Proverbs 12:13

    The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

  • Luke 6:32-36

    For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. …

  • 1 Peter 2:18-21

    Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • Revelation 13:14

    And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
righteous.
13; 17:27; Ps 16:3; Mt 5:46-48; Lu 6:32-36; 1Pe 2:18-21
excellent. or, abundant. but.
Ps 18:12,13; Jas 1:13,14; 2Pe 2:18-22; 1Jo 2:26; Re 12:9; 13:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 12:25

    Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

  • Proverbs 12:26

    The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

  • Proverbs 12:27

    The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Read all of Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El justo hace ventaja á su prójimo: mas el camino de los impíos les hace errar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le juste montre le chemin à son compagnon, mais la voie des méchants les fourvoie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Gerechte weist seinem Nächsten den Weg, aber der Weg der Gesetzlosen führt sie irre.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui negligit damnum propter amicum, justus est; iter autem impiorum decipiet eos.