Proverbs 12-16

English Standard Version

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(A)hates reproof is ^(B)stupid.
² A good man ^(C)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³ No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(D)the righteous will never be moved.
^4 (E)An excellent wife is ^(F)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(G)brings shame is like ^(H)rottenness in his bones.
^5 (I)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶ The words of the wicked ^(J)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(K)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
^7 (L)The wicked are ^(M)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(N)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸ A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(O)despised.
⁹ Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
^10 (P)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
^11 (Q)Whoever works his land ^(R)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(S)but he who follows ^(T)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹² Whoever is wicked covets ^(U)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ An evil man is ensnared ^(V)by the transgression of his lips,^{[a]
    (W)}but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his mouth ^(X)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(Y)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
^15 (Z)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
^16 (AA)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
^17 (AB)Whoever speaks^[b] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(AC)a false witness utters deceit.
^18 (AD)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(AE)healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(AF)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of ^(AG)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
^21 (AH)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
^22 (AI)Lying lips are ^(AJ)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(AK)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
^23 (AL)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(AM)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
^24 (AN)The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be ^(AO)put to forced labor.
^25 (AP)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.
²⁶ One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,^[c]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
^27 (AQ)Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
    but the diligent man will get precious wealth.^[d]
28 (AR)In the path of righteousness is life,
    and in its pathway there is no death.
13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but ^(AS)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
² From the fruit of his mouth a man ^(AT)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous ^(AU)is for violence.
^3 (AV)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    ^(AW)he who opens wide his lips ^(AX)comes to ruin.
^4 (AY)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent ^(AZ)is richly supplied.
⁵ The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame^[e] and disgrace.
^6 (BA)Righteousness guards him whose ^(BB)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
^7 (BC)One pretends to be rich,^[f] yet has nothing;
    ^(BD)another pretends to be poor,^[g] yet has great wealth.
⁸ The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man ^(BE)hears no threat.
^9 (BF)The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but ^(BG)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
^10 (BH)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
^11 (BI)Wealth gained hastily^[h] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    ^(BJ)but a desire fulfilled is ^(BK)a tree of life.
¹³ Whoever ^(BL)despises ^(BM)the word^[i] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment^[j] will be ^(BN)rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is ^(BO)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(BP)turn away from the snares of death.
^15 (BQ)Good sense wins ^(BR)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^[k]
16 (BS)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    ^(BT)but a fool flaunts his folly.
¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but ^(BU)a faithful envoy brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^(BV)ignores instruction,
    ^(BW)but whoever ^(BX)heeds reproof is honored.
^19 (BY)A desire fulfilled 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 will suffer harm.
^21 (BZ)Disaster^[l] pursues sinners,
    ^(CA)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
^22 (CB)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but ^(CC)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through ^(CD)injustice.
^24 (CE)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.^[m]
25 (CF)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
14 ^(CG)The wisest of women ^(CH)builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands ^(CI)tears it down.
² Whoever ^(CJ)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is ^(CK)devious in his ways despises him.
³ By the mouth of a fool comes ^(CL)a rod for his back,^{[n]
    (CM)}but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
^5 (CN)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but ^(CO)a false witness breathes out lies.
^6 (CP)A scoffer seeks wisdom ^(CQ)in vain,
    but ^(CR)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⁷ Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
^9 (CS)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
    but the upright enjoy acceptance.^[o]
10 The heart knows its own ^(CT)bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
^11 (CU)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
^12 (CV)There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but ^(CW)its end is the way to death.^[p]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and ^(CX)the end of joy may be ^(CY)grief.
¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be ^(CZ)filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and ^(DA)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
^15 (DB)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
^16 (DC)One who is wise is cautious^[q] and ^(DD)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
¹⁷ A man of ^(DE)quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
^19 (DF)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
^20 (DG)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    ^(DH)but the rich has many friends.
²¹ Whoever ^(DI)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but ^(DJ)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
²² Do they not go astray who ^(DK)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet^{[r] (DL)}steadfast love and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk ^(DM)tends only to poverty.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who ^(DN)breathes out lies is deceitful.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has ^(DO)strong confidence,
    and ^(DP)his children will have ^(DQ)a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is ^(DR)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(DS)turn away from the snares of death.
²⁸ In ^(DT)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is ^(DU)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil^[s] heart gives ^(DV)life to the flesh,
    but ^(DW)envy^[t] makes ^(DX)the bones rot.
³¹ Whoever oppresses a poor man ^(DY)insults his ^(DZ)Maker,
    ^(EA)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
^32 (EB)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but ^(EC)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
³³ Wisdom ^(ED)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[u]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has ^(EE)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 ^(EF)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but ^(EG)a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but ^(EH)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
^3 (EI)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
^4 (EJ)A gentle^[v] tongue is ^(EK)a tree of life,
    but ^(EL)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
^5 (EM)A fool ^(EN)despises his father's instruction,
    but ^(EO)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
^7 (EP)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    ^(EQ)not so the hearts of fools.^[w]
8 (ER)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(ES)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him ^(ET)who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is ^(EU)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    ^(EV)whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more ^(EW)the hearts of the children of man!
^12 (EX)A scoffer ^(EY)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
^13 (EZ)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by ^(FA)sorrow of heart the spirit is ^(FB)crushed.
^14 (FC)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but ^(FD)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
^16 (FE)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
^17 (FF)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than ^(FG)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
^18 (FH)A hot-tempered man ^(FI)stirs up strife,
    but he who is ^(FJ)slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹ The way of ^(FK)a sluggard is like a hedge of ^(FL)thorns,
    but the path of the upright is ^(FM)a level highway.
^20 (FN)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.
^21 (FO)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding ^(FP)walks straight ahead.
^22 (FQ)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and ^(FR)a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward ^(FS)for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of ^(FT)the proud
    but ^(FU)maintains ^(FV)the widow's boundaries.
^26 (FW)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but ^(FX)gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Whoever is ^(FY)greedy for unjust gain ^(FZ)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates ^(GA)bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous ^(GB)ponders how to answer,
    but ^(GC)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is ^(GD)far from the wicked,
    but he ^(GE)hears the prayer of the righteous.
^30 (GF)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and ^(GG)good news refreshes^[x] the bones.
^31 (GH)The ear that listens to ^(GI)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
³² Whoever ^(GJ)ignores instruction ^(GK)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof ^(GL)gains intelligence.
^33 (GM)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and ^(GN)humility comes before honor.