Proverbs 12

1One who loves discipline loves knowledge;Whoever spurns reproof is a brute.

2A good person earns the favor of GOD,A man of intrigues, God’s condemnation.

3No one can be established in wickedness,But the root of the righteous will not be shaken loose.

4A woman of substance is a crown for her husband,But an incompetent one is like rot in his bones.

5The purposes of the righteous are justice,The schemes of the wicked are deceit.

6The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,But the speech of the upright saves them.

7Overturn the wicked and they are gone,But the house of the righteous will endure.

8A man is commended according to his intelligence;A twisted mind is held up to contempt.

9Better to be lightly esteemed and have a servantThan to put on airs and have no food.

10A righteous person knows the needs of their beast,But the compassion of the wicked is cruelty.

11He who tills his land shall have food in plenty,But one who pursues vanities is devoid of sense.

12A wicked man covets the catch of evildoers;The root of the righteous yields [fruit].

13Sinful speech is a trap for the evildoer,But a righteous man escapes from trouble.

14A man gets his fill of good from the fruit of his speech;One is repaid in kind for one’s deeds.

15The way of fools is right in their own eyes;But those who are wise accept advice.

16Fools’ vexation is known at once,But the clever conceal their humiliation.

17A faithful witness tells the truth,But a false witness, deceit.

18There is blunt talk like sword-thrusts,But the speech of the wise is healing.

19Truthful speech abides forever,A lying tongue for but a moment.

20Deceit is in the minds of those who plot evil;For those who plan good there is joy.

21No harm befalls a righteous person,But the wicked have their fill of misfortune.

22Lying speech is an abomination to GOD,But those who act faithfully are pleasing.

23A clever person conceals knowledge,But the mind of dullards cries out folly.

24The hand of the diligent wields authority;The negligent are held in subjection.

25If there is anxiety in someone’s mind, let them quash it,And turn it into joy with a good word.

26A righteous person gives friends direction, But the way of the wicked leads astray.

27A negligent person never has game to roast;A diligent one has precious wealth.

28The road of righteousness leads to life;By way of its path there is no death.