Proverbs 12-14

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.^(A)
2 The good obtain favor from the Lord,
    but those who devise evil he condemns.^(B)
3 No one finds security by wickedness,
    but the root of the righteous will never be moved.^(C)
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband,
    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.^(D)
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
⁶ The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.^(E)
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous will stand.^(F)
8 One is commended for good sense,
    but a perverse mind is despised.
⁹ Better to be despised and have produce^[a]
    than to be self-important and lack food.
¹⁰ The righteous know the needs of their animals,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.^(G)
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
    but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.^(H)
12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,^[b]
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.^(I)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.^(J)
15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.^(K)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.^(L)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.^(M)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^(N)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.^(O)
20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
    but those who counsel peace have joy.^(P)
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.^(Q)
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.^(R)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool^[c] broadcasts folly.^(S)
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.^(T)
26 The righteous are released from misfortune,^[d]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
²⁷ The lazy do not roast^[e] their game,
    but the diligent obtain precious wealth.^[f]
28 In the path of righteousness there is life;
    in walking its path there is no death.^(U)

13 A wise child loves discipline,^[g]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.^(V)
2 From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
³ Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.^(W)
4 The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
    while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.^(X)
5 The righteous hate falsehood,
    but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
⁶ Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.^(Y)
7 Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing;
    others pretend to be poor yet have great wealth.^(Z)
8 Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
    but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.
⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,^[h]
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.^(AA)
10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,
    but wisdom is with those who take advice.^(AB)
11 Wealth hastily gotten^[i] will dwindle,
    but those who gather little by little will increase it.^(AC)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
¹³ Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.^(AD)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.^(AE)
15 Good sense wins favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.^[j](AF)
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.^(AG)
17 A bad messenger brings trouble,
    but a faithful envoy, healing.^(AH)
18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.^(AI)
19 A desire realized is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.^(AJ)
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
    but prosperity rewards the righteous.^(AK)
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.^(AL)
23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
    but it is swept away through injustice.^(AM)
24 Those who spare the rod hate their children,
    but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.^(AN)
25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked is empty.^(AO)

14 The wise woman^[k] builds her house,
    but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
² Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
    but one who is devious in conduct despises him.^(AP)
3 The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,^[l]
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.^(AQ)
4 Where there are no oxen, there is no grain;
    abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
⁵ A faithful witness does not lie,
    but a false witness breathes out lies.^(AR)
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
⁷ Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not find words of knowledge.
⁸ It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
    but the folly of fools misleads.^(AS)
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,^[m]
    but the upright enjoy God’s favor.
¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked is destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright flourishes.^(AT)
12 There is a way that seems right to a person,
    but its end is the way to death.^[n](AU)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
    and the end of joy is grief.^(AV)
14 The perverse get what their ways deserve,
    and the good, what their deeds deserve.^[o](AW)
15 The simple believe everything,
    but the clever consider their steps.
¹⁶ The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.^(AX)
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
    and the schemer is hated.^(AY)
18 The simple are adorned with^[p] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.^(AZ)
19 The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.^(BA)
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.^(BB)
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the poor.^(BC)
22 Do not those who plan evil err?
    Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but folly is the garland^[q] of fools.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who utters lies is a betrayer.^(BD)
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
    and one’s children will have a refuge.^(BE)
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.^(BF)
28 The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
    without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.^(BG)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
    but jealousy makes the bones rot.^(BH)
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
    but those who are kind to the needy honor him.^(BI)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
    but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.^[r](BJ)
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
    but it is not^[s] known in the heart of fools.^(BK)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.^(BL)
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.^(BM)