Proverbs 12:1-28
12 A lover of discipline is a lover of knowledge,+ but a hater of reproof is unreasoning.+
2 One that is good gets approval from Jehovah,+ but the man* of [wicked] ideas he pronounces wicked.+
3 No man* will be firmly established by wickedness;+ but as for the root-foundation of the righteous ones, it will not be caused to stagger.+
4 A capable wife is a crown to her owner,+ but as rottenness in his bones is she that acts shamefully.+
5 The thoughts of the righteous ones are judgment;+ the steering by the wicked ones is deception.+
6 The words of the wicked ones are a lying in wait* for blood,+ but the mouth of the upright ones is what will deliver them.+
7 There is an overthrowing* of the wicked ones and they are no more,+ but the very house of the righteous ones will keep standing.+
8 For his mouth of discretion a man will be praised,+ but one who is twisted at heart will come to be for contempt.+
9 Better is the one lightly esteemed but having a servant than the one glorifying himself but in want of bread.+
10 The righteous one is caring for the soul of his domestic animal,+ but the mercies of the wicked ones are cruel.+
11 The one cultivating his ground will himself be satisfied with bread,+ but the one pursuing valueless things is in want of heart.*+
12 The wicked one has desired the netted prey of bad men;+ but as for the root of the righteous ones, it yields.+
13 By the transgression of the lips the bad person is ensnared,+ but the righteous one gets out of distress.+
14 From the fruitage of a man’s mouth* he is satisfied with good,+ and the very doing of a man’s hands* will come back to him.+
15 The way of the foolish one is right in his own eyes,+ but the one listening to counsel is wise.+
16 It is a foolish person that makes known his vexation in the [same] day,+ but the shrewd one is covering over a dishonor.+
17 He that launches forth faithfulness will tell what is righteous,+ but a false witness, deception.+
18 There exists the one speaking thoughtlessly as with the stabs of a sword,+ but the tongue of the wise ones is a healing.+
19 It is the lip of truth+ that will be firmly established forever,+ but the tongue of falsehood will be only as long as a moment.*+
20 Deception is in the heart of those fabricating mischief,+ but those counseling peace have rejoicing.+
21 Nothing hurtful will befall the righteous one,+ but the wicked are the ones that will certainly be filled with calamity.+
22 False lips are something detestable to Jehovah,+ but those acting in faithfulness are a pleasure to him.+
23 A shrewd man* is covering knowledge,+ but the heart of the stupid ones is one that calls out foolishness.+
24 The hand of the diligent ones is the one that will rule,+ but the slack hand will come to be for forced labor.+
25 Anxious care in the heart of a man* is what will cause it to bow down,+ but the good word is what makes it rejoice.+
26 The righteous one spies out his own pasturage, but the very way of wicked ones causes them to wander about.+
27 Slackness will not start up one’s game animals,+ but the diligent one is a man’s* precious wealth.
28 In the path of righteousness there is life,+ and the journey in its pathway means no death.+
Footnotes
^ “But the man of.” Heb., weʼishʹ.
^ Or, “earthling man.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ “A lying in wait.” In Heb. this is a verb in the infinitive construct.
^ “There is an overthrowing.” In Heb. this is a verb in the infinitive absolute, indefinite as to time and impersonal.
^ Or, “is lacking good motive.” Heb., chasar-levʹ.
^ Lit., “mouth of a man.” Heb., phi-ʼishʹ.
^ Lit., “hands of a man.” Heb., yedheh-ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ Lit., “will be only as long as I am inclined to give rest [or, to twinkle].”
^ “Man.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ “Man.” Heb., ʼish.
^ “Man’s.” Heb., ʼa·dhamʹ.
