Proverbs 12

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

1 One who loves ▼

▼Or instruction

discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
2 A ^bgood person will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a person ▼

▼Lit of evil devices

who devises evil.
3 A person will ^dnot be established by wickedness,
But the root of the ^erighteous will not be moved.
4 An ▼

▼Or virtuous

, ^gexcellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like ^hrottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The ⁱwords of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the ^jmouth of the upright will rescue them.
7 The ^kwicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the ^lhouse of the righteous will stand.
8 A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse ▼

▼Lit heart

mind will be despised.
9 Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A ⁿrighteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One ^owho works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks ▼

▼Lit heart

sense.
12 The ^qwicked person desires the ▼

▼Lit net (for trapping prey); another reading is mountain stronghold

plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous ^syields fruit.
13 ▼

▼Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare

An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the ^urighteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be ^vsatisfied with good by the fruit of his ▼

▼Lit mouth

words,
And the ^xdeeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The ^yway of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A ^zfool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who ^aaspeaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the ^abtongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a ^aclying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 ^adNo harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 ^aeLying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A ^afprudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the ▼

▼Lit idle

lazy hand will be ^ahput to forced labor.
25 ^aiAnxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a ^ajgood word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 ▼

▼Lit An indolent

A lazy person does not ▼

▼Or catch

roast his prey,
But the ^amprecious possession of a person is diligence.
28 ^anIn the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.