Proverbs 12:9-19

New American Standard Bible

⁹ Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
¹⁰ A ^(A)righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹ One ^(B)who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks ^[a]sense.
¹² The ^(C)wicked person desires the ^[b]plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous ^(D)yields fruit.
^13 [c]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the ^(E)righteous will escape from trouble.
¹⁴ A person will be ^(F)satisfied with good by the fruit of his ^[d]words,
And the ^(G)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
¹⁵ The ^(H)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
¹⁶ A ^(I)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
¹⁷ One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
¹⁸ There is one who ^(J)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the ^(K)tongue of the wise brings healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a ^(L)lying tongue is only for a moment.