The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
- KJV The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
- BSB The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
- NKJV The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
- NLT The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Lord watches over knowledge but overthrows the words of the unfaithful. It matters because God preserves truth and frustrates deceit.
Overview
God's providence guards what is true and right while bringing the schemes and lies of the treacherous to nothing (Proverbs 21:30; Psalm 33:10). The verse assures that truth endures under God's watchful care. The faithful can trust that God upholds his truth against all falsehood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Tim 3:8–9Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith, are rejected.
- 2 Chr 16:9For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
- Acts 13:8–12But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
- Job 5:12–13He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
- 2 Th 2:8Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;
- Acts 12:23–24Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Acts 8:9–12But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
- Matt 16:16–18Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Rev 11:3–11I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
- Rev 12:14–17Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
- Acts 5:39But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
- Isa 59:19–21So shall they fear Yahweh’s name from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which Yahweh’s breath drives.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 22:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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