(A)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The words of the wicked (B)lie in wait for blood,
    but (C)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
(D)The wicked are (E)overthrown and are no more,
    (F)but the house of the righteous will stand.
A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is (G)despised.
Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 (H)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 (I)Whoever works his land (J)will have plenty of bread,
    (K)but he who follows (L)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets (M)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared (N)by the transgression of his lips,[a]
    (O)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth (P)a man is satisfied with good,
    (Q)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
15 (R)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
16 (S)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

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