Proverbs 12
International Standard Version
Wisdom and Wickedness Contrasted
12 The person who loves correction loves knowledge,
but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.
2 The good person will gain favor from the Lord,
but the man who plots evil will be condemned by him.
3 A person doesn’t gain security by wickedness,
but the righteous won’t be uprooted.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but a wife[a] who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.[b]
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lead to[c] bloodshed,
but the speech of the upright delivers them.
7 After they’re overthrown, the wicked won’t be found,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 A man is praised because of his wise words,
but the perverted mind[d] will be despised.
9 It’s better to be unimportant, yet have a servant,
than to pretend to be important, but lack food.
10 The righteous person looks out for the welfare of his livestock,
but even[e] the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 Whoever tills his soil will have a lot to eat,
but anyone who pursues fantasies lacks sense.[f]
12 The wicked desires what evil people gain,
but the foundation[g] of the righteous is productive.
13 An evil man’s sinful speech ensnares him,
but the righteous person escapes from trouble.
14 By his fruitful speech a man can remain satisfied,
and a man’s handiwork will reward him.
15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
but wise is the man who listens to advice.
16 The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
but the prudent person overlooks an insult.
17 The truth teller speaks what is right,
but the false witness speaks what is[h] deceitful.
18 Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
but what the wise say promotes healing.
19 A truthful saying[i] is trusted forever,
but the liar[j] only for a moment.
20 Deceit is at home[k] in the heart of those who plan evil,
but those who promote peace rejoice.
21 No harm overwhelms the righteous,
but the wicked overflow with trouble.
22 Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[l]
but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.
24 The diligent will take control,
but the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 A person’s anxiety weighs down his heart,
but an appropriate word is encouraging.
26 The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor,
but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted,
but diligence is one’s most important possession.
28 In the pathway to righteousness there is life,
and in that lifestyle there is no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. but she
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. decay
- Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for
- Proverbs 12:8 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:10 The Heb. lacks even
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:12 Or root
- Proverbs 12:17 The Heb. lacks speaks what is
- Proverbs 12:19 Lit. lips
- Proverbs 12:19 Lit. the lying tongue
- Proverbs 12:20 The Heb. lacks at home
- Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself
Proverbs 12
Lexham English Bible
12 He who loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates rebuke is stupid.
2 The good obtains favor from Yahweh,
but anyone who schemes, he condemns.
3 A person will not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 A woman of strength[a] is the crown of her master,[b]
but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are[c] just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
6 The words of the wicked are an ambush of blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,[d]
but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended,
but he who is of perverse mind[e] will be despised.
9 It is better to be lowly and a servant to someone[f]
than self-glorifying and lacking food.
10 The righteous knows the life[g] of his animal,
but the compassion[h] of the wicked is cruel.
11 He who works his land will have plenty of food,
but he who follows worthless things lacks sense.[i]
12 The wicked covets the proceeds of evil,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.[j]
13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good,
and the reward of a man’s labor[k] will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes,
but he who listens to advice is wise.
16 As for a fool, on that very day[l] he makes his anger known,
but he who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness,
but the witness of falsehood, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 A lip of truth endures forever,
but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart[m] of those who plan[n] evil,
but to those who plan[o] peace, there is joy.
21 No evil will happen[p] to the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 An abomination of Yahweh are lips of deceit,
but they who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A clever person conceals knowledge,
but the heart[q] of a fool[r] announces folly.
24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule,
but the lazy will belong to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in the heart[s] of a man will weigh him down,
but a good word will cheer him.
26 A righteous person will seek out his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.
27 The lazy will not roast his game,
but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.
28 On the road of righteousness is life,
and on the way of the path, may there be no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Or “honor”
- Proverbs 12:4 Or “lord, owner”
- Proverbs 12:5 Hebrew “is”
- Proverbs 12:7 Literally “there is no them”
- Proverbs 12:8 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 12:9 Literally “for him,” “belonging to him”
- Proverbs 12:10 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 12:10 Hebrew “compassions”
- Proverbs 12:11 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 12:12 Literally “gives, sets up”
- Proverbs 12:14 Literally “the hands of a man”
- Proverbs 12:16 Literally “on the day”
- Proverbs 12:20 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”
- Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”
- Proverbs 12:21 Literally “All evil will not happen”
- Proverbs 12:23 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 12:23 Hebrew “fools”
- Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”
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