Proverbs 12-13
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)
Footnotes
- 12.9 Cn: Heb servant
- 12.12 Or covet the catch of the wicked
- 12.23 Heb the heart of fools
- 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father
- 13.9 Or shines
- 13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
- 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.