Proverbs 12:1-28
12 The one who loves discipline loves knowledge,+But the one who hates reproof is unreasoning.*+
2 The good person obtains Jehovah’s approval,But He condemns the man of wicked schemes.+
3 No man is made secure by wickedness,+But the righteous will never be uprooted.
4 A capable wife is a crown to her husband,+But the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.+
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,But the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.
6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,*+But the mouth of the upright saves them.+
7 When the wicked are overthrown, they are no more,But the house of the righteous will keep standing.+
8 A man is praised for the discretion of his mouth,+But one with a twisted heart will be treated with contempt.+
9 Better to be lightly esteemed and have a servantThan to glorify oneself and have no food.*+
10 The righteous one takes care of his domestic animals,*+But even the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 The one who cultivates his land will be satisfied with food,+But the one pursuing worthless things is lacking good sense.*
12 The wicked man envies what other evil men have caught,But the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The evil man is ensnared by his own sinful speech,+But the righteous one escapes from distress.
14 From the fruitage of his speech* a man is satisfied with good,+And the work of his hands will reward him.
15 The way of the fool is right in his own eyes,+But the wise one accepts advice.*+
16 A fool immediately* shows his annoyance,+But the shrewd man overlooks* an insult.
17 The one who testifies faithfully will tell the truth,*But a false witness speaks deceit.
18 Thoughtless speech is like the stabs of a sword,But the tongue of the wise is a healing.+
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,+But a lying tongue will last for only a moment.+
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot mischief,But those who promote* peace have joy.+
21 No harm will befall the righteous one,+But the wicked will have their fill of calamity.+
22 Lying lips are detestable to Jehovah,+But those acting faithfully bring pleasure to him.
23 A shrewd man conceals what he knows,But the heart of the fool blurts out his foolishness.+
24 The hand of the diligent ones will rule,+But idle hands will be put to forced labor.+
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,*+But a good word cheers it up.+
26 The righteous one searches out his pastures,But the course of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy do not chase after the prey,+But diligence is a man’s precious treasure.
28 The path of righteousness leads to life;+Along its pathway there is no death.
Footnotes
^ Or “has no sense.”
^ Lit., “lie in wait for blood.”
^ Lit., “bread.”
^ Or “the soul of his domestic animal.”
^ Lit., “in want of heart.”
^ Lit., “mouth.”
^ Or “counsel.”
^ Or “in the same day.”
^ Lit., “covers over.”
^ Lit., “what is righteous.”
^ Lit., “those who are counselors of.”
^ Or “depresses him.”