Proverbs 12
Contemporary English Version
You Can't Hide behind Evil
12 (A) To accept correction is wise,
to reject it is stupid.
2 The Lord likes everyone
who lives right,
but he punishes everyone
who makes evil plans.
3 Sin cannot offer security!
But if you live right,
you will be as secure
as a tree with deep roots.
4 A helpful wife is a jewel
for her husband,
but a shameless wife
will make his bones rot.
5 Good people have kind thoughts,
but you should never trust
the advice of someone evil.
6 Bad advice is a deadly trap,
but good advice
is like a shield.
7 Once the wicked are defeated,
they are gone forever,
but no one who obeys God
will ever be thrown down.
8 Good sense is worthy of praise,
but stupidity is a curse.
9 It's better to be ordinary
and have only one servant[a]
than to think you are somebody
and starve to death.
10 Good people are kind
to their animals,
but a mean person is cruel.
11 Hard working farmers have more
than enough food;
daydreamers are nothing more
than stupid fools.
12 An evil person tries to hide
behind evil;[b]
good people are like trees
with deep roots.
13 We trap ourselves
by telling lies,
but we stay out of trouble
by living right.
14 We are rewarded or punished
for what we say and do.
15 Fools think they know
what is best,
but a sensible person
listens to advice.
16 Losing your temper is foolish;
ignoring an insult is smart.
17 An honest person
tells the truth in court,
but a dishonest person
tells nothing but lies.
18 Sharp words cut like a sword,
but words of wisdom heal.
19 Truth will last forever;
lies are soon found out.
20 An evil mind is deceitful,
but gentle thoughts
bring happiness.
21 Good people never have trouble,
but troublemakers
have more than enough.
22 The Lord hates every liar,
but he is the friend of all
who can be trusted.
23 Be sensible and don't tell
everything you know—
only fools spread
foolishness everywhere.
24 Work hard, and you
will be a leader;
be lazy, and you
will end up a slave.
25 Worry is a heavy burden,
but a kind word
always brings cheer.
26 You are better off to do right,
than to lose your way
by doing wrong.[c]
27 Anyone too lazy to cook
will starve,
but a hard worker
is a valuable treasure.[d]
28 Living right is a pathway
that leads to life
and away from death.
Footnotes
Proverbs 12
American Standard Version
12 Whoso loveth [a]correction loveth knowledge;
But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah;
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 worthy woman is the crown of her husband;
But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked [b]are of lying in wait for blood;
But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 [c]The wicked are overthrown, and are not;
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 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,
Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast;
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that followeth after [d]vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth [e]the net of evil men;
But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 In the transgression of the lips is [f]a snare to the evil man;
But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth;
And the doings 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 is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
16 A fool’s vexation is [g]presently known;
But a prudent man concealeth shame.
17 He that [h]uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness;
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword;
But the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip 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 devise evil;
But to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no mischief happen to the righteous;
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah;
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 bear rule;
But [i]the slothful shall be put under taskwork.
25 [j]Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop;
But a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor;
But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
27 [k]The slothful man [l]roasteth not that which he took in hunting;
But the precious substance of men [m]is to the diligent.
28 In the way of righteousness is life;
And in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:1 Or, instruction
- Proverbs 12:6 Or, are a lying in wait
- Proverbs 12:7 Or, Overthrow the wicked, and they are not
- Proverbs 12:11 Or, vain things
- Proverbs 12:12 Or, the prey
- Proverbs 12:13 Or, an evil snare
- Proverbs 12:16 Or, openly. Hebrew in the day.
- Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breatheth out.
- Proverbs 12:24 Hebrew slothfulness.
- Proverbs 12:25 Or, Care
- Proverbs 12:27 Hebrew slothfulness.
- Proverbs 12:27 Or, catcheth not his prey
- Proverbs 12:27 Or, is to be diligent
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