Proverbs 12
1 Whoso is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoso is hating reproof [is] brutish.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates correction is stupid.
2 The good bringeth forth favour from Jehovah, And the man of wicked devices He condemneth.
Yahweh gives favor to a good man, but he condemns a man who makes evil plans.
3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
A person cannot be established by wickedness, but righteous people cannot be uprooted.
4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
A worthy wife is her husband's crown, but she who brings shame is like a disease that rots 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 advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked [are]: 'Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth 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 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous standeth.
Wicked people are overthrown and they are gone, but the house of the righteous person will stand.
8 According to his wisdom is a man praised, And the perverted of heart becometh despised.
A person is praised by how much wisdom he has, but the one who makes perverse choices is despised.
9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.
Better to have an unimportant position—only being a servant— than to brag about your importance but have no food.
10 The righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
The righteous person cares about the needs of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases after worthless projects has no sense.
12 The wicked hath desired the net of evil doers, And the root of the righteous giveth.
The wicked person desires what evil men have stolen from others, but the fruit of righteous people comes from themselves.
13 In transgression of the lips [is] the snare of the wicked, And the righteous goeth out from distress.
An evil person is trapped by his wicked talk, but the righteous person escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth [is] one satisfied [with] good, And the deed of man's hands returneth to him.
From the fruit of his words a person is filled with good things, just as the work of his hands rewards him.
15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
16 The fool — in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame.
A fool shows his anger at once, but one who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness — deceit.
The one who speaks the truth says what is right, but a false witness tells lies.
18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
The words of one who speaks rashly are like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment — a tongue of falsehood.
Truthful lips last forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy.
There is deceit in the hearts of those who plan to do evil, but joy comes to the advisors of peace.
21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
No ill comes on the righteous person, but wicked people are filled with difficulties.
22 An abomination to Jehovah [are] lying lips, And stedfast doers [are] his delight.
Yahweh hates lying lips, but those who live faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaimeth folly.
A prudent man conceals his knowledge, but the heart of fools shouts out folly.
24 The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but lazy people will be put to forced labor.
25 Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad.
Anxiety in the heart of a person weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
26 The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
The righteous person is a guide for his friend, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful roasteth not his hunting, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
Lazy people would not roast their own game, but the diligent man will obtain precious wealth.
28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
Those who walk in the right way find life and in its path there is no death.
