Wisdom and Wickedness Contrasted
12 The person who loves correction loves knowledge,
but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.
2 The good person will gain favor from the Lord,
but the man who plots evil will be condemned by him.
3 A person doesn’t gain security by wickedness,
but the righteous won’t be uprooted.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but a wife[a] who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.[b]
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lead to[c] bloodshed,
but the speech of the upright delivers them.
7 After they’re overthrown, the wicked won’t be found,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 A man is praised because of his wise words,
but the perverted mind[d] will be despised.
9 It’s better to be unimportant, yet have a servant,
than to pretend to be important, but lack food.
10 The righteous person looks out for the welfare of his livestock,
but even[e] the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 Whoever tills his soil will have a lot to eat,
but anyone who pursues fantasies lacks sense.[f]
12 The wicked desires what evil people gain,
but the foundation[g] of the righteous is productive.
13 An evil man’s sinful speech ensnares him,
but the righteous person escapes from trouble.
14 By his fruitful speech a man can remain satisfied,
and a man’s handiwork will reward him.
15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
but wise is the man who listens to advice.
16 The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
but the prudent person overlooks an insult.
17 The truth teller speaks what is right,
but the false witness speaks what is[h] deceitful.
18 Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
but what the wise say promotes healing.
19 A truthful saying[i] is trusted forever,
but the liar[j] only for a moment.
20 Deceit is at home[k] in the heart of those who plan evil,
but those who promote peace rejoice.
21 No harm overwhelms the righteous,
but the wicked overflow with trouble.
22 Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[l]
but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.
24 The diligent will take control,
but the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 A person’s anxiety weighs down his heart,
but an appropriate word is encouraging.
26 The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor,
but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted,
but diligence is one’s most important possession.
28 In the pathway to righteousness there is life,
and in that lifestyle there is no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. but she
- Proverbs 12:4 Lit. decay
- Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for
- Proverbs 12:8 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:10 The Heb. lacks even
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 12:12 Or root
- Proverbs 12:17 The Heb. lacks speaks what is
- Proverbs 12:19 Lit. lips
- Proverbs 12:19 Lit. the lying tongue
- Proverbs 12:20 The Heb. lacks at home
- Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself