Proverbs 12

¹Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.

²The good obtain favor from the Lord,

but those who devise evil he condemns.

³No one finds security by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

⁴A good wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

⁶The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,

but the speech of the upright delivers them.

⁷The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸One is commended for good sense,

but a perverse mind is despised.

⁹Better to be despised and have a servant,

than to be self-important and lack food.

¹⁰The righteous know the needs of their animals,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

¹¹Those who till their land will have plenty of food,

but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.

¹²The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,

but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

¹³The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,

but the righteous escape from trouble.

¹⁴From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,

and manual labor has its reward.

¹⁵Fools think their own way is right,

but the wise listen to advice.

¹⁶Fools show their anger at once,

but the prudent ignore an insult.

¹⁷Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,

but a false witness speaks deceitfully.

¹⁸Rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,

but those who counsel peace have joy.

²¹No harm happens to the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

²²Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.

²³One who is clever conceals knowledge,

but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.

²⁴The hand of the diligent will rule,

while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

²⁵Anxiety weighs down the human heart,

but a good word cheers it up.

²⁶The righteous gives good advice to friends,

but the way of the wicked leads astray.

²⁷The lazy do not roast their game,

but the diligent obtain precious wealth.

²⁸In the path of righteousness there is life,

in walking its path there is no death.