Proverbs, 12

¹ 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^*1 of [wicked] ideas he pronounces wicked.

³ No man^*1 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^*1 for blood, but the mouth of the upright ones is what will deliver them.

⁷ There is an overthrowing^*1 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.^*1

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^*1 he is satisfied with good, and the very doing of a man’s hands^*2 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.^*1

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^*1 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^*1 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^*1 precious wealth.

²⁸ In the path of righteousness there is life, and the journey in its pathway means no death.