Proverbs 12

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

Those who want to know [what is right to do] want to be (disciplined/corrected) when they do what is wrong; it is foolish to not want to be (corrected/told that what you did is wrong).

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

Yahweh is pleased with good people, but he condemns those who plan to harm [others].

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

People do not become secure/safe by doing what is wicked; righteous [people] will be very safe and secure [LIT] like [MET] a tree that has deep roots.

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

A good wife is one who causes her husband to be greatly honored, but a wife who does things that cause her husband to be ashamed [will destroy him] like [SIM] cancer [destroys] his bones.

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

What righteous [people] want to do is [to treat people] fairly; what wicked [people] want to do is to deceive people.

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

What wicked [people] say is like a trap [MET] that kills [MTY] people [who pass by], but what righteous [people] say [MTY] rescues those whom [wicked people threaten to harm].

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

Wicked [people] will die [before they become old and we will see] them no more, but righteous people will live [for many years] and have many descendants.

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

[People will] praise those who have good sense, but [people will] despise those (who are always thinking about doing evil things/whose thinking is twisted).

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

It is better to be a humble/ordinary person who has only one servant than to think that you are very important while you have nothing to eat.

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

Righteous people take care of their domestic animals, but wicked people act cruelly [toward their animals].

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

Farmers who work hard in their fields will [produce good crops] that will give them plenty to eat, but those who waste their time working on worthless projects are foolish.

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

Wicked [people] desire to take away what [other] evil people have, but [Yahweh] enables righteous/godly [people] to be steadfast and productive [MET].

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

Evil people are trapped by the evil things that they say [MTY], but righteous [people] escape from 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.

People are rewarded for [the good things] that they say [to others], and people are [also] rewarded for the good work that they do [MTY].

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

Foolish people [always] think that what they are doing is right; wise people heed [other people when they give them good] advice.

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

Foolish people quickly become angry when someone does something that they don’t like; but those who have good sense ignore it when others insult them.

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

[In the courtroom], honest people say what is true, but untruthful/dishonest people tell [nothing but] lies.

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

What some people say [hurts people badly], as much as [SIM] a sword can; but what wise [people] say (heals [others’ souls]/comforts others).

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

When people tell [MTY] lies, others soon realize that what they said is not true [IDM]; but when people say what is true, others will remember that forever.

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

Those who plan to do what is evil are always wanting to deceive [others], but things will go well for those who plan [to do] good things.

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

Bad things [usually] [HYP] do not happen to righteous [people], but wicked [people] always have troubles.

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

Yahweh detests those [MTY] who tell lies, but he is delighted with those who faithfully do what they promise that they will do.

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

Those with good sense do not reveal [all] that they know; foolish people show [clearly] by what they say that they (are ignorant/have not learned much).

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

Those [SYN] who work hard become rulers [of others]; those who are lazy become slaves [of others.]

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

When people are anxious/worried, they become depressed/dejected, but when others speak kindly to them, it causes them to be cheerful again.

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

Godly/Righteous people try to [give good advice to] their friends (OR, try to make friends with others), but the manner in which wicked [people] live misleads their friends.

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

Lazy people do not even [cook the meat of] the animals that they catch/kill, but those who work hard will acquire (OR, are like) a valuable treasure.

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

Those who (live righteously/continually do what is right) are [walking] on the road to a long life; (it is not a road to death/they will not die when they are still young).