Proverbs 18:12 (DRB)

Passage

Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

Proverbs 18:11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "glorified", "before", "destruction", "heart", "exalted", and "humbled". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "glorified" and "before", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "The substance of the rich man is..." into verse 13's "He that answereth before he heareth sheweth...", so "glorified" and "before" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "glorified" and "before" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.