Proverbs 12
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Those who want to know [what is right to do] want to be (disciplined/corrected) when they do what is wrong; it is foolish to not want to be (corrected/told that what you did is wrong).
2 The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
Yahweh is pleased with good people, but he condemns those who plan to harm [others].
3 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
People do not become secure/safe by doing what is wicked; righteous [people] will be very safe and secure [LIT] like [MET] a tree that has deep roots.
4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
A good wife is one who causes her husband to be greatly honored, but a wife who does things that cause her husband to be ashamed [will destroy him] like [SIM] cancer [destroys] his bones.
5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.
What righteous [people] want to do is [to treat people] fairly; what wicked [people] want to do is to deceive people.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
What wicked [people] say is like a trap [MET] that kills [MTY] people [who pass by], but what righteous [people] say [MTY] rescues those whom [wicked people threaten to harm].
7 The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.
Wicked [people] will die [before they become old and we will see] them no more, but righteous people will live [for many years] and have many descendants.
8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but a twisted mind is despised.
[People will] praise those who have good sense, but [people will] despise those (who are always thinking about doing evil things/whose thinking is twisted).
9 Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
It is better to be a humble/ordinary person who has only one servant than to think that you are very important while you have nothing to eat.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
Righteous people take care of their domestic animals, but wicked people act cruelly [toward their animals].
11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Farmers who work hard in their fields will [produce good crops] that will give them plenty to eat, but those who waste their time working on worthless projects are foolish.
12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
Wicked [people] desire to take away what [other] evil people have, but [Yahweh] enables righteous/godly [people] to be steadfast and productive [MET].
13 An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
Evil people are trapped by the evil things that they say [MTY], but righteous [people] escape from trouble.
14 By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.
People are rewarded for [the good things] that they say [to others], and people are [also] rewarded for the good work that they do [MTY].
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
Foolish people [always] think that what they are doing is right; wise people heed [other people when they give them good] advice.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Foolish people quickly become angry when someone does something that they don’t like; but those who have good sense ignore it when others insult them.
17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
[In the courtroom], honest people say what is true, but untruthful/dishonest people tell [nothing but] lies.
18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
What some people say [hurts people badly], as much as [SIM] a sword can; but what wise [people] say (heals [others’ souls]/comforts others).
19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
When people tell [MTY] lies, others soon realize that what they said is not true [IDM]; but when people say what is true, others will remember that forever.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
Those who plan to do what is evil are always wanting to deceive [others], but things will go well for those who plan [to do] good things.
21 No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
Bad things [usually] [HYP] do not happen to righteous [people], but wicked [people] always have troubles.
22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Yahweh detests those [MTY] who tell lies, but he is delighted with those who faithfully do what they promise that they will do.
23 A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
Those with good sense do not reveal [all] that they know; foolish people show [clearly] by what they say that they (are ignorant/have not learned much).
24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
Those [SYN] who work hard become rulers [of others]; those who are lazy become slaves [of others.]
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
When people are anxious/worried, they become depressed/dejected, but when others speak kindly to them, it causes them to be cheerful again.
26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
Godly/Righteous people try to [give good advice to] their friends (OR, try to make friends with others), but the manner in which wicked [people] live misleads their friends.
27 A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
Lazy people do not even [cook the meat of] the animals that they catch/kill, but those who work hard will acquire (OR, are like) a valuable treasure.
28 There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.
Those who (live righteously/continually do what is right) are [walking] on the road to a long life; (it is not a road to death/they will not die when they are still young).
