Proverbs 12
1 Whoso loveth knowledge loveth correction; but he that is brutish hateth reproof.
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 A good man shall obtain favour of the LORD; but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
Yahweh is pleased with good people, but he condemns those who plan to harm [others].
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall never be moved.
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 virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but she that doeth shamefully is as rottenness 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 thoughts of the righteous are right; but the counsels of the wicked are 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 are to lie in wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver 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 are not; but the house of the righteous shall 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 shall be commended according to his intelligence; but he that is of a distorted understanding shall be 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 is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that playeth the man of rank, and lacketh bread.
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 regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Righteous people take care of their domestic animals, but wicked people act cruelly [toward their animals].
11 He that tilleth his ground shall have plenty of bread; but he that followeth after vain things is void of understanding.
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 desireth the prey of evil men; but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
Wicked [people] desire to take away what [other] evil people have, but [Yahweh] enables righteous/godly [people] to be steadfast and productive [MET].
13 In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; but the righteous cometh out of trouble.
Evil people are trapped by the evil things that they say [MTY], but righteous [people] escape from trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto 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 straight in his own eyes; but he that is wise hearkeneth unto 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 vexation is presently known; but a prudent man concealeth shame.
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 that breatheth forth truth uttereth righteousness; but a false witness deceit.
[In the courtroom], honest people say what is true, but untruthful/dishonest people tell [nothing but] lies.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
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 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for 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 heart of them that devise evil; but to the counsellors of peace is 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 There shall no mischief befall the righteous; but the wicked are filled with evil.
Bad things [usually] [HYP] do not happen to righteous [people], but wicked [people] always have troubles.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly 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 prudent man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
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 shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Those [SYN] who work hard become rulers [of others]; those who are lazy become slaves [of others.]
25 Care in the heart of a man boweth it down; but a good word maketh it glad.
When people are anxious/worried, they become depressed/dejected, but when others speak kindly to them, it causes them to be cheerful again.
26 The righteous is guided by his friend; but the way of the wicked leadeth 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 The slothful man shall not hunt his prey; but the precious substance of men is to be diligent.
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 In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no 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).
