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