Proverbs 12
1 Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
2 The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.
The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.
The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.
6 The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers them.
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous stands.
The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes despised.
A man is praised according to his wisdom, but a twisted mind is despised.
9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
10 The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
11 Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
12 The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.
The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
13 The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from distress.
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
14 One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to him.
By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.
15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
16 The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.
A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17 Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.
He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood for a moment.
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.
Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [are] his delight.
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.
A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
24 The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
25 Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
26 The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
27 The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.
