Proverbs 12

1 He that loveth correction, 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 from Yahweh, 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 son of earth, shall not be established, by lawlessness, but, the root of the righteous, shall not be disturbed.

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 the crown of her husband, but, a veritable decay in his bones, is she that causeth shame.

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 plans of the righteous, are just, but, the counsels of the lawless, are deceitful.

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 lawless, are—of lying 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 Overthrown are the lawless and they 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 In proportion to his prudence, is a man, to be praised, but, the perverse in heart, shall be an object of contempt.

[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 Better slighted, and have a servant, than to honour oneself, and come short of 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 desire of his beast, but, the compassions of the lawless, 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 filled with food, but, he that runneth after worthless men, lacketh sense.

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 A lawless man craveth the prey of the wicked, but, the root of the righteous, is enduring.

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

13 By the transgression of the lips, is the wicked man, ensnared, but the righteous, cometh out of distress.

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

14 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth, shall he be satisfied with good, and, the dealing of the hands of a son of earth, shall be paid back to 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 the foolish, is right in his own eyes, but, he that hearkeneth to 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 foolish man, on the [same] day, letteth his vexation be known, but, he that concealeth an affront, is prudent.

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 whispereth faithfulness, declareth righteousness, but, a false witness, is a fraud.

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

18 There is who babbleth, as with thrusts of a sword, but, the tongue of the wise, hath healing.

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 A lip that is faithful, shall be firm to futurity, but, only for a twinkling, is the tongue that is false.

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 contrivers of mischief, but, to the counsellors of peace, shall be 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 Unseemly to the righteous, is any trouble, but, the lawless, are full of misfortune.

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

22 An abomination to Yahweh, are lips that are false, but, he that dealeth faithfully, is 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 dullards, proclaimeth folly.

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 indolent, shall come under tribute.

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

25 When anxiety is in the heart of a man, one may bow him down, but, a good word, maketh him 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 man guideth his neighbour, but, the way of the lawless, leadeth them astray.

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 Indolence, roasteth not, his own game, but, the substance of a man, is precious, when he is diligent.

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 path thereof, immortality,

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).