Proverbs 21:12

The Righteous One ¹  considers ²  the house ³  of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin. ⁴ 

The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin.

The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring the wicked to disaster.

A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.

The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.

The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he casts the wicked down to ruin.

The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

The Righteous One ¹  considers ²  the house ³  of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin. ⁴ 

¹ tn In the book of Proverbs, the Hebrew term צַּדִּיק (ysadiq) normally refers to a human being, and that is a possible translation here (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB), although it would have to refer to a righteous person who was a judge or a ruler with the right to destroy the wicked. Many commentators and English versions simply interpret this as a reference to God (cf. NIV, NRSV, TEV, NLT).

² tn The form מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is now used with the meaning “to consider; to give attention to; to ponder.” It is the careful scrutiny that is given to the household of the wicked before judgment is poured out on them.

³ tn Heb “house.” This term probably means “household” here – the family. One way to read the line is that the righteous judge (human or divine) takes into consideration the wicked person’s family before judging the wicked person. The other – and more plausible – interpretation is that the judge considers the household of the wicked and then on the basis of what was observed judges them.

⁴ tn Heb “to evil” (i.e., catastrophe); cf. NLT “to disaster.”