Proverbs 12

1 Whoever is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoever is hating reproof [is] brutish.

Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

2 The good brings forth favor from YHWH, And the man of wicked schemes He condemns.

A good man shall obtain favor from the LORD, but he will condemn a man of wicked devices.

3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.

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

4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked—deceit.

The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

6 The words of the wicked [are]: “Lay [in] wait for blood,” And the mouth of the upright delivers them.

The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous stands.

The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, And the perverted of heart becomes despised.

A person is commended according to his good sense, but the one who has a perverse mind is despised.

9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who has a servant, Than the self-honored who lacks bread.

Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.

10 The righteous knows the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.

A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,

He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

12 The wicked has desired the net of evildoers, And the root of the righteous gives.

The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.

13 The snare of the wicked [is] in transgression of the lips, And the righteous goes out from distress.

An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

14 One [is] satisfied [with] good from the fruit of the mouth, And the deed of man’s hands returns to him.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man's hands shall be rewarded to him.

15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoever is listening to counsel [is] wise.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.

16 The fool—his anger is known in a day, And the prudent is covering shame.

A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

17 Whoever utters faithfulness declares righteousness, And a false witness—deceit.

He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.

There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.

19 The lip of truth is established forever, And a tongue of falsehood for a moment.

Truth's lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.

20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, But for counselors of peace—joy.

Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.

21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.

No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

22 Lying lips [are] an abomination to YHWH, And steadfast doers [are] his delight.

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who do the truth are his delight.

23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaims folly.

A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent rules, And slothfulness becomes tributary.

The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.

25 Sorrow in the heart of a man bows down, And a good word makes him glad.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

26 The righteous searches his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.

A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 The slothful does not roast his game, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.

The slothful man doesn't roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!

In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.