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12 Whoso loveth [a]correction loveth knowledge;
But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah;
But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
A man shall not be established by wickedness;
But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband;
But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
The words of the wicked [b]are of lying in wait for blood;
But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
[c]The wicked are overthrown, and are not;
But the house of the righteous shall stand.
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom;
But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,
Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast;
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that followeth after [d]vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth [e]the net of evil men;
But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 In the transgression of the lips is [f]a snare to the evil man;
But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth;
And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;
But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
16 A fool’s vexation is [g]presently known;
But a prudent man concealeth shame.
17 He that [h]uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness;
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword;
But the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever;
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil;
But to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no mischief happen to the righteous;
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah;
But they that deal truly are his delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge;
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule;
But [i]the slothful shall be put under taskwork.
25 [j]Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop;
But a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor;
But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
27 [k]The slothful man [l]roasteth not that which he took in hunting;
But the precious substance of men [m]is to the diligent.
28 In the way of righteousness is life;
And in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:1 Or, instruction
  2. Proverbs 12:6 Or, are a lying in wait
  3. Proverbs 12:7 Or, Overthrow the wicked, and they are not
  4. Proverbs 12:11 Or, vain things
  5. Proverbs 12:12 Or, the prey
  6. Proverbs 12:13 Or, an evil snare
  7. Proverbs 12:16 Or, openly. Hebrew in the day.
  8. Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breatheth out.
  9. Proverbs 12:24 Hebrew slothfulness.
  10. Proverbs 12:25 Or, Care
  11. Proverbs 12:27 Hebrew slothfulness.
  12. Proverbs 12:27 Or, catcheth not his prey
  13. Proverbs 12:27 Or, is to be diligent

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

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(B)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(C)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(D)

A wife of noble character(E) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(F)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(G)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(H)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(I)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(J) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(K)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(L)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(M)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(N)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(O)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(P)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(Q)
    but the wise listen to advice.(R)

16 Fools(S) show their annoyance at once,(T)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(U)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(V)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(W)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(X)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

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

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(Z)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(AA)
    but he delights(AB) in people who are trustworthy.(AC)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(AD)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(AE)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(AF)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(AG)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(AH)

27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(AI)
    along that path is immortality.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.