Proverbs 12
New King James Version
The House of the Righteous Shall Stand
12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
3 A man is not established by wickedness,
But the (A)root of the righteous cannot be moved.
4 (B)An[a] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is (C)like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 (D)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
(E)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 (F)The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
(G)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9 (H)Better is the one who is [b]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
10 (I)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 (J)He who [c]tills his land will be satisfied with (K)bread,
But he who follows [d]frivolity (L)is devoid of [e]understanding.
12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 (M)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
(N)But the righteous will come through trouble.
14 (O)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
(P)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 (Q)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 (R)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.
17 (S)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 (T)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
(U)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (V)No grave [f]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 (W)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
23 (X)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 (Y)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.
28 In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. A wife of valor
- Proverbs 12:9 lightly esteemed
- Proverbs 12:11 works or cultivates
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. vain things
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:21 harm
Proverbs 12
21st Century King James Version
12 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord, but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that causeth shame is rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The counsels of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood, but the mouths of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is lowly and hath a servant is better off than he that honoreth himself and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man hath regard for the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men, but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips, but the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense 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 hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covereth shame.
17 He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.
18 There is he that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 The lips 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 imagine evil, but to the counselors of peace there is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just, but the wicked shall be filled with troubles.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, 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 exercise rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor, but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.