Proverbs 12

1 He that loveth correction, loveth knowledge, but, he that hateth reproof, is brutish.

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

2 A good man, obtaineth favour from Yahweh, but, a man of wicked devices, will he condemn.

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

3 A son of earth, shall not be established, by lawlessness, but, the root of the righteous, shall not be disturbed.

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

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

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

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

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

6 The words of the lawless, are—of lying in wait for blood, but, the mouth of the upright, shall deliver them.

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

7 Overthrown are the lawless and they are not, but, the house of the righteous, shall stand.

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

8 In proportion to his prudence, is a man, to be praised, but, the perverse in heart, shall be an object of contempt.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.

9 Better slighted, and have a servant, than to honour oneself, and come short of bread.

Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honours himself and lacks bread.

10 A righteous man, regardeth the desire of his beast, but, the compassions of the lawless, are cruel.

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

11 He that tilleth his land, shall be filled with food, but, he that runneth after worthless men, lacketh sense.

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

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

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

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

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

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 the foolish, is right in his own eyes, but, he that hearkeneth to counsel, is wise.

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

16 A foolish man, on the [same] day, letteth his vexation be known, but, he that concealeth an affront, is prudent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Deceit, is in the heart of contrivers of mischief, but, to the counsellors of peace, shall be joy.

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

21 Unseemly to the righteous, is any trouble, but, the lawless, are full of misfortune.

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

22 An abomination to Yahweh, are lips that are false, but, he that dealeth faithfully, is his delight.

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

23 A prudent man, concealeth knowledge, but, the heart of dullards, proclaimeth folly.

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

24 The hand of the diligent, shall bear rule, but, the indolent, shall come under tribute.

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

25 When anxiety is in the heart of a man, one may bow him down, but, a good word, maketh him glad.

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

26 The righteous man guideth his neighbour, but, the way of the lawless, leadeth them astray.

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

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

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

28 In the way of righteousness, is life, and, in the path thereof, immortality,

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