
a.. who cannot be bought;
b.. whose word is their bond;
c.. who put character above wealth;
d.. who possess opinions and a will;
e.. who are larger than their vocations;
f.. who do not hesitate to take chances;
g.. who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
h.. who will make no compromise with wrong;
i.. whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
j.. who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it";
k.. who are true to their friends through good report and evil report in adversity as well as in prosperity;
l.. who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheartedness are the best qualities for winning success;
m.. who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
n.. who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes." (Dr. Larry M. Groves )
Proverbs 12 describes the blessings of the righteous versus the curses of the evil.
Blessings of the Righteous
Those who love instruction and knowledge, experience the following blessings:
- Obtain favor from the Lord
- Stable
- Virtuous wife is crown of husband
- Just thoughts
- Mouth delivers them
- Family endures
- Praised according to insight
Those who hate reproof, experience the following curses:
- Condemnation from the Lord
- Unstable
- Shameful wife is rottenness in his bones
- Deceitful counsel
- Words lie in wait for blood
- Overthrown and are no more
- Perverse heart despised (Prov. 12:1-8)
Those who are highly esteemed with a servant demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Regards animals
- Diligent in working to make money
- Yields fruit
- Escape from trouble
- Satisfied with good by fruit of his mouth
- Listens to counsel
Those who honor themselves and lack bread demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Cruel
- Lacks sense in pursuing vain things
- Desires booty of evil men
- Ensnared by transgression of his lips
- Deeds return to him
- Right in his own eyes (Prov. 12:9-15)
The prudent who conceal dishonor speak in the following ways:
- Speaks truth and righteousness
- Speaks wisdom and healing
- Truthful lips established forever
- Counselors of peace have joy
- No harm
- Deal faithfully are delight to the Lord
- Conceals knowledge
The foolish who make their frustrations known immediately speak in the following ways:
- Speaks deceit and falseness
- Speaks rashly like thrusts of a sword
- Lying tongue is temporary
- Deceitful heart
- Filled with trouble
- Lying lips are abomination to the Lord
- Proclaims folly (Prov. 12:16-23)
The diligent allows them to rule so they experience the following outcomes:
- Good word makes it glad
- Guide to neighbor
- Diligence is precious possession
- Life
The slack hand will be put to forced labor so they experience the following outcomes:
- Anxiety weighs it down
- Leads people astray
- Does not catch its prey
- Death (Prov. 12:24-28)