Proverbs 12
1 If you love knowledge, you will love discipline. Anyone who hates being corrected is stupid!
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates correction is stupid.
2 The Lord blesses the good, but he condemns anyone with evil schemes.
Yahweh gives favor to a good man, but he condemns a man who makes evil plans.
3 Wickedness doesn't provide security, but those who live right are deeply rooted and cannot be moved.
A person cannot be established by wickedness, but righteous people cannot be uprooted.
4 A good wife is a crown for her husband, but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.
A worthy wife is her husband's crown, but she who brings shame is like a disease that rots his bones.
5 Good people make plans that are fair, but the advice of the wicked is deceptive.
The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are like a violent ambush, but those of honest people save them.
The words of wicked people are an ambush waiting for a chance to kill, but the words of the upright keep them safe.
7 The wicked are destroyed, and they're gone, but the family of the good stands firm.
Wicked people are overthrown and they are gone, but the house of the righteous person will stand.
8 People are appreciated for talking sense, but those with perverted minds are despised.
A person is praised by how much wisdom he has, but the one who makes perverse choices is despised.
9 Better to be a humble man serving himself than a boastful man who has nothing to eat.
Better to have an unimportant position—only being a servant— than to brag about your importance but have no food.
10 Good people look after their animals, but the care given by wicked is really cruelty.
The righteous person cares about the needs of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase after worthless things you're stupid.
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases after worthless projects has no sense.
12 Wicked people long for ill-gotten gains, but good people are productive themselves.
The wicked person desires what evil men have stolen from others, but the fruit of righteous people comes from themselves.
13 The wicked trap themselves by their own sinful words, but good people escape trouble.
An evil person is trapped by his wicked talk, but the righteous person escapes from trouble.
14 What you say brings you rewards, and your work returns to bless you.
From the fruit of his words a person is filled with good things, just as the work of his hands rewards him.
15 Stupid people think they're on the right track, but if you're wise you listen to advice.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
16 Stupid people get angry immediately, but if you're sensible you ignore an insult.
A fool shows his anger at once, but one who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 Whoever tells the truth is being honest, but a false witness tells lies.
The one who speaks the truth says what is right, but a false witness tells lies.
18 Some people's hasty words cut like a knife, but the words of the wise bring healing.
The words of one who speaks rashly are like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Words of truth last forever, but lies are gone in a moment.
Truthful lips last forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the mind of those planning evil, but those who plan peace have joy.
There is deceit in the hearts of those who plan to do evil, but joy comes to the advisors of peace.
21 No harm comes to the good, but trouble fills the wicked.
No ill comes on the righteous person, but wicked people are filled with difficulties.
22 The Lord hates liars but is happy with those who are trustworthy.
Yahweh hates lying lips, but those who live faithfully are his delight.
23 If you're sensible, you don't show off your knowledge, but stupid people announce their stupidity.
A prudent man conceals his knowledge, but the heart of fools shouts out folly.
24 Hard work brings leadership, but laziness brings slavery.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but lazy people will be put to forced labor.
25 If you're anxious, you're weighed down, but an encouraging word will cheer you up.
Anxiety in the heart of a person weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
26 Good people look out for their friends, but the way the wicked live leads them astray.
The righteous person is a guide for his friend, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 Lazy people don't catch their prey, but if you work hard you can become rich.
Lazy people would not roast their own game, but the diligent man will obtain precious wealth.
28 The path of right leads to life, it doesn't lead to death.
Those who walk in the right way find life and in its path there is no death.
