Proverbs 12
1 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).
If you love knowledge, you will love discipline. Anyone who hates being corrected is stupid!
2 Yahweh is pleased with good people, but he condemns those who plan to harm [others].
The Lord blesses the good, but he condemns anyone with evil schemes.
3 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.
Wickedness doesn't provide security, but those who live right are deeply rooted and cannot be moved.
4 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.
A good wife is a crown for her husband, but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.
5 What righteous [people] want to do is [to treat people] fairly; what wicked [people] want to do is to deceive people.
Good people make plans that are fair, but the advice of the wicked is deceptive.
6 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].
The words of the wicked are like a violent ambush, but those of honest people save them.
7 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.
The wicked are destroyed, and they're gone, but the family of the good stands firm.
8 [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).
People are appreciated for talking sense, but those with perverted minds are despised.
9 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.
Better to be a humble man serving himself than a boastful man who has nothing to eat.
10 Righteous people take care of their domestic animals, but wicked people act cruelly [toward their animals].
Good people look after their animals, but the care given by wicked is really cruelty.
11 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.
If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase after worthless things you're stupid.
12 Wicked [people] desire to take away what [other] evil people have, but [Yahweh] enables righteous/godly [people] to be steadfast and productive [MET].
Wicked people long for ill-gotten gains, but good people are productive themselves.
13 Evil people are trapped by the evil things that they say [MTY], but righteous [people] escape from trouble.
The wicked trap themselves by their own sinful words, but good people escape trouble.
14 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].
What you say brings you rewards, and your work returns to bless you.
15 Foolish people [always] think that what they are doing is right; wise people heed [other people when they give them good] advice.
Stupid people think they're on the right track, but if you're wise you listen to advice.
16 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.
Stupid people get angry immediately, but if you're sensible you ignore an insult.
17 [In the courtroom], honest people say what is true, but untruthful/dishonest people tell [nothing but] lies.
Whoever tells the truth is being honest, but a false witness tells lies.
18 What some people say [hurts people badly], as much as [SIM] a sword can; but what wise [people] say (heals [others’ souls]/comforts others).
Some people's hasty words cut like a knife, but the words of the wise bring healing.
19 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.
Words of truth last forever, but lies are gone in a moment.
20 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.
Deceit is in the mind of those planning evil, but those who plan peace have joy.
21 Bad things [usually] [HYP] do not happen to righteous [people], but wicked [people] always have troubles.
No harm comes to the good, but trouble fills the wicked.
22 Yahweh detests those [MTY] who tell lies, but he is delighted with those who faithfully do what they promise that they will do.
The Lord hates liars but is happy with those who are trustworthy.
23 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).
If you're sensible, you don't show off your knowledge, but stupid people announce their stupidity.
24 Those [SYN] who work hard become rulers [of others]; those who are lazy become slaves [of others.]
Hard work brings leadership, but laziness brings slavery.
25 When people are anxious/worried, they become depressed/dejected, but when others speak kindly to them, it causes them to be cheerful again.
If you're anxious, you're weighed down, but an encouraging word will cheer you up.
26 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.
Good people look out for their friends, but the way the wicked live leads them astray.
27 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.
Lazy people don't catch their prey, but if you work hard you can become rich.
28 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).
The path of right leads to life, it doesn't lead to death.
