Proverbs 12

1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish.

A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast.

2 A good [man] obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the man of evil designs gets punishment from him.

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved.

4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] right: [but] the counsels of the wicked [are] deceit.

The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit.

6 The words of the wicked [are] to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.

7 The wicked are overthrown, and [are] not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the house of upright men will keep its place.

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but a wrong-minded man will be looked down on.

9 [He that is] despised, and hath a servant, [is] better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread.

10 A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.

An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel.

11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding.

He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.

12 The wicked desireth the net of evil [men: ] but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit].

The resting-place of the sinner will come to destruction, but the root of upright men is for ever.

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of [his] lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble.

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded.

15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.

The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions.

16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent [man] covereth shame.

A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret.

17 [He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit.

18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.

There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment.

True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute.

20 Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace [is] joy.

Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy.

21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil.

22 Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly [are] his delight.

False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight.

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous [is] more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them.

27 The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.

He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.

28 In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in] the pathway [thereof there is] no death.

In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.