Proverbs 12 ESV | WeDevote Bible

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who 12:1 ch. 5:12; 15:10hates reproof is 12:1 Ps. 49:10stupid.

2A good man 12:2 ch. 8:35obtains favor from the Lord,

but a man of evil devices he condemns.

3No one is established by wickedness,

but the root of 12:3 See ch. 10:25the righteous will never be moved.

412:4 See ch. 31:10An excellent wife is 12:4 Song 3:11the crown of her husband,

but she who 12:4 ch. 10:5brings shame is like 12:4 ch. 14:30rottenness in his bones.

512:5 [Matt. 12:35]The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

6The words of the wicked 12:6 See ch. 1:11lie in wait for blood,

but 12:6 ch. 14:3the mouth of the upright delivers them.

712:7 See ch. 11:21The wicked are 12:7 Job 34:25overthrown and are no more,

12:7 [ch. 10:25, 30]but the house of the righteous will stand.

8A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is 12:8 [1 Sam. 20:30]despised.

9Better to be lowly and have a servant

than to play the great man and lack bread.

1012:10 [Deut. 25:4]Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

1112:11 ch. 28:19Whoever works his land 12:11 ch. 20:13will have plenty of bread,

12:11 ch. 28:19but he who follows 12:11 Judg. 9:4worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12Whoever is wicked covets 12:12 [Ps. 10:9]the spoil of evildoers,

but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13An evil man is ensnared 12:13 ch. 18:7; [Ps. 64:8; Matt. 12:37] by the transgression of his lips,12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

12:13 ch. 21:23but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14From the fruit of his mouth 12:14 ch. 13:2; 14:14; 18:20a man is satisfied with good,

12:14 ch. 19:17; Isa. 3:10, 11; [Judg. 9:16, 56]and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

1512:15 ch. 3:7; 16:2; 21:2; 26:12; [ch. 14:12; 16:25]The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

1612:16 [ch. 14:33; 29:11]The vexation of a fool is known at once,

but the prudent ignores an insult.

1712:17 ch. 14:5Whoever speaks12:17 Hebrew breathes out the truth gives honest evidence,

but 12:17 See ch. 6:19a false witness utters deceit.

1812:18 See Ps. 57:4There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings 12:18 See ch. 4:22healing.

19Truthful lips endure forever,

but 12:19 ch. 19:9; [Ps. 52:4, 5]a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20Deceit is in the heart of 12:20 ch. 3:29those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.

2112:21 Ps. 91:10; [1 Pet. 3:13; 2 Pet. 2:9]No ill befalls the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

2212:22 [Rev. 22:15]; See ch. 6:17Lying lips are 12:22 ch. 11:20an abomination to the Lord,

12:22 [ch. 11:1]but those who act faithfully are his delight.

2312:23 [ch. 13:16; 15:2]A prudent man conceals knowledge,

12:23 [ch. 13:16; 15:2]but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

2412:24 [ch. 10:4; 13:4] The hand of the diligent will rule,

while the slothful will be 12:24 [Gen. 49:15; 1 Kgs. 9:21]put to forced labor.

2512:25 ch. 15:13; [ch. 17:22]Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

26One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,12:26 Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

2712:27 [ver. 24]Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,

but the diligent man will get precious wealth.12:27 Or but diligence is precious wealth

2812:28 See ch. 10:2In the path of righteousness is life,

and in its pathway there is no death.

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