12 喜愛管教的喜愛知識,
    厭惡責備的愚不可及。
善良的人蒙耶和華賜恩,
    詭詐的人被耶和華定罪。
人不能靠惡行堅立自己,
    義人的根基卻不會動搖。
賢德的妻子是丈夫的冠冕,
    無恥的妻子如丈夫的骨瘤。
義人的心思公平正直,
    惡人的計謀陰險詭詐。
惡人的言語暗藏殺機,
    正直人的口拯救生命。
惡人覆滅不復存在,
    義人的家屹立不倒。
人有智慧受稱讚,
    心術不正遭唾棄。
地位卑微卻有僕人,
    勝過自高卻餓肚子。
10 義人顧惜自己的牲畜,
    惡人的憐憫也是殘忍。
11 努力耕耘者豐衣足食;
    追求虛榮者愚不可及。
12 惡人貪戀壞人的贓物,
    義人的根結出碩果。
13 惡人被自己的惡言所困,
    但義人可以脫離險境。
14 口出良言,飽嚐美福;
    雙手勤勞,終得回報。
15 愚人自以為是,
    智者肯聽勸誡。
16 愚人難壓怒氣,
    明哲忍辱負重。
17 忠實的證人講真話,
    作偽證者滿口謊言。
18 出言不慎猶如利劍傷人,
    智者之言卻能醫治創傷。
19 誠實的口永遠長存,
    撒謊的舌轉瞬即逝。
20 圖謀惡事的心懷詭詐,
    勸人和睦的喜樂洋溢。
21 義人無往不利,
    惡人災禍連連。
22 耶和華厭惡說謊的嘴,
    祂喜愛行為誠實的人。
23 明哲不露鋒芒,
    愚人心吐愚昧。
24 殷勤的手必掌權,
    懶惰者必做奴僕。
25 憂慮的心使人消沉,
    一句良言振奮人心。
26 義人引人走正路,
    惡人領人入歧途。
27 懶漢不烤獵物,
    勤快人得資財。
28 公義的道上有生命,
    公義的路上無死亡。

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.(A)

One who is good obtains favor from the Lord,(B)
but he condemns a person who schemes.(C)

No one can be made secure by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous is immovable.(D)

A wife of noble character[a] is her husband’s crown,(E)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(F)

The thoughts of the righteous are just,
but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,(G)
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(H)

The wicked are overthrown and perish,(I)
but the house of the righteous will stand.(J)

A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.(K)

10 The righteous cares about his animal’s health,(L)
but even the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food,(M)
but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.(N)

12 The wicked desire what evil people have caught,[b]
but the root of the righteous is productive.

13 By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,(O)
but a righteous person escapes from trouble.(P)

14 A person will be satisfied with good
by the fruit of his mouth,(Q)
and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.(R)

15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,(S)
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.(T)

17 Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,
but a false witness speaks deceit.(U)

18 There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;(V)
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(W)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue, only a moment.(X)

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.(Y)

21 No disaster overcomes the righteous,(Z)
but the wicked are full of misery.

22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord,(AA)
but faithful people are his delight.(AB)

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.(AC)

24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(AD)

25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.(AE)

26 A righteous person is careful in dealing with his neighbor,[c]
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.(AF)

27 A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,(AG)
but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.(AH)

28 There is life in the path of righteousness,
and in its path there is no death.[d](AI)

Footnotes

  1. 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character
  2. 12:12 Or desire a stronghold of evil
  3. 12:26 Or person guides his neighbor
  4. 12:28 Or righteousness, but the crooked way leads to death