Pro 28:12 | KingComments | STEP | The contrast in this verse is between the situation when “righteous” triumph and when “wicked” rise, i.e. come to power ( ). The idea is that there is much confidence among the people when the righteous are exalted, when they are in power, when “there is great glory”. They have a positive effect among people. The righteous give luster to society. Society is prosperous. Everyone is happy and joyful because there is a just distribution of burdens and a fair sharing of benefits. “But when the wicked rise”, when they come to power, that is the end of a peaceful, happy society. They have a negative effect among people. When the wicked become powerful, the streets become quiet, because people hide out of fear of them. We see these two opposite effects in the reign of Mordecai ( ) and that of the Midianites ( ).

‏ Proverbs 28:12

The Righteous or the Wicked in Control

The contrast in this verse is between the situation when “righteous” triumph and when “wicked” rise, i.e. come to power (Pro 11:10). The idea is that there is much confidence among the people when the righteous are exalted, when they are in power, when “there is great glory”. They have a positive effect among people. The righteous give luster to society. Society is prosperous. Everyone is happy and joyful because there is a just distribution of burdens and a fair sharing of benefits.

“But when the wicked rise”, when they come to power, that is the end of a peaceful, happy society. They have a negative effect among people. When the wicked become powerful, the streets become quiet, because people hide out of fear of them. We see these two opposite effects in the reign of Mordecai (Est 8:17) and that of the Midianites (Jdg 6:2).