Proverbs 12-14

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

12 Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating.

² A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked devices He condemns.

³ A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall never be moved.

⁴ A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.^(A)

⁵ The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous.

⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them and the innocent ones [thus endangered].

⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are not, but the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall stand.

⁸ A man shall be commended according to his Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God], but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

⁹ Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread.

¹⁰ A [consistently] righteous man regards the life of his beast, but even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.^(B)

¹¹ He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and is without understanding.

¹² The wicked desire the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fruitage].

¹³ The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgression of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble.

¹⁴ From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him [as a harvest].

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.^(C)

¹⁶ A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.

¹⁷ He who breathes out truth shows forth righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), but a false witness utters deceit.

¹⁸ There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is [credited] but for a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but for the counselors of peace there is joy.

²¹ No [actual] evil, misfortune, or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune, and calamity.^(D)

²² Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal faithfully are His delight.^(E)

²³ A prudent man is reluctant to display his knowledge, but the heart of [self-confident] fools proclaims their folly.^(F)

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor.

²⁵ Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.^(G)

²⁶ The [consistently] righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causes others to go astray.

²⁷ The slothful man does not catch his game or roast it once he kills it, but the diligent man gets precious possessions.

²⁸ Life is in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), and in its pathway there is no death but immortality (perpetual, eternal life).^(H)

13 A wise son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father’s instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

² A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

³ He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴ The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.^(I)

⁵ A [consistently] righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he comes [surely] to shame.

⁶ Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner.

⁷ One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently]; another man considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches.^(J)

⁸ A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats [from the envious].

⁹ The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him—it grows brighter and] rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked [furnishes only a derived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly.

¹⁰ By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³ Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].

¹⁶ Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

¹⁹ Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to [self-confident] fools to give up evil [upon which they have set their hearts].

²⁰ He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.^(K)

²¹ Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God is recompensed with good.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

²³ Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.

²⁴ He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.^(L)

²⁵ The [uncompromisingly] righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.

14 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

² He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.

³ In the ^[a]fool’s own mouth is a rod [to shame] his pride, but the wise men’s lips preserve them.

⁴ Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox.

⁵ A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.

⁶ A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.

⁷ Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

⁸ The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive.

⁹ Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God.^(M)

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

¹² There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

¹³ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights].

¹⁵ The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.

¹⁶ A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident.

¹⁷ He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated.

¹⁸ The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ The evil men bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliantly] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous.

²⁰ The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.

²² Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good.

²³ In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly.

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies [and endangers lives].

²⁶ In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.

²⁷ Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.^(N)

²⁸ In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin.

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.^(O)

³⁰ A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him.^(P)

³² The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing and calamity, but the [consistently] righteous has hope and confidence even in death.

³³ Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known.^(Q)

³⁴ Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

³⁵ The king’s favor is toward a wise and discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully.^(R)