Proverbs 12
1 Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.
A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast.
2 The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.
A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the man of evil designs gets punishment from him.
3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved.
4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.
The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers them.
The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.
7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous stands.
Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the house of upright men will keep its place.
8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes despised.
A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but a wrong-minded man will be looked down on.
9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.
He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread.
10 The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel.
11 Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.
12 The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.
The resting-place of the sinner will come to destruction, but the root of upright men is for ever.
13 The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from distress.
In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble.
14 One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to him.
From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded.
15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.
The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions.
16 The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.
A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret.
17 Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.
The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit.
18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.
19 The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood for a moment.
True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.
Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy.
21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil.
22 Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [are] his delight.
False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight.
23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.
A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts.
24 The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.
The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.
25 Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.
Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.
The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them.
27 The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.
28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.
