Proverbs 12
1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof 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 A good man shall obtain favour from the LORD, but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.
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 not 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 worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife 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 just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
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 about lying 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 are no more, 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 wisdom, but he who has a warped mind 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 who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honours himself and lacks 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 respects the life of his animal, 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 who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies 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 desires 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 sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come 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. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded 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 he who is wise 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 shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
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 is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
[In the courtroom], honest people say what is true, but untruthful/dishonest people tell [nothing but] lies.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
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 Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
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 those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
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 mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be 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 those who do the truth 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 keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim 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 hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labour.
Those [SYN] who work hard become rulers [of others]; those who are lazy become slaves [of others.]
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes 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 A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads 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 doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
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; in its path 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).
