Proverbs 12

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

1One who loves 1discipline loves knowledge, But one who hates rebuke is stupid.2A 2good person will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a person 3who devises evil.3A person will 4not be established by wickedness, But the root of the 5righteous will not be moved.4An 67excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like 8rottenness in his bones.5The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.6The 9words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood, But the 10mouth of the upright will rescue them.7The 11wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the 12house of the righteous will stand.8A person will be praised according to his insight, But one of perverse 13mind will be despised.9Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.10A 14righteous person has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.11One 15who works his land will have plenty of bread, But one who pursues worthless things lacks 16sense.12The 17wicked person desires the 18plunder of evil people, But the root of the righteous 19yields fruit.1320An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips, But the 21righteous will escape from trouble.14A person will be 22satisfied with good by the fruit of his 23words, And the 24deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.15The 25way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a person who listens to advice is wise.16A 26fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent person conceals dishonor.17One who declares truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.18There is one who 27speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the 28tongue of the wise brings healing.19Truthful lips will endure forever, But a 29lying tongue is only for a moment.20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.2130No harm happens to the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.2231Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.23A 32prudent person conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.24The hand of the diligent will rule, But the 33lazy hand will be 34put to forced labor.2535Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a 36good word makes it glad.26The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.2737A lazy person does not 38roast his prey, But the 39precious possession of a person is diligence.2840In the way of righteousness there is life, And in its pathway there is no death.