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A woman of worth is the crown of her husband,(A)
    but a disgraceful one is like rot in his bones.[a]
The plans of the just are right;
    the designs of the wicked are deceit.[b]
The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
    but the speech of the upright saves them.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 12:4 In Proverbs a crown is the result and sign of wise conduct. A good wife is a public sign of the husband’s shrewd judgment and divine blessing (crown), whereas a bad wife brings him inner pain (rot in the bones).
  2. 12:5 The opposite of “just” is not injustice but “deceit.” The wicked will be deceived in their plans in the sense that their planning will not succeed.
  3. 12:6 Words are a favorite theme of Proverbs. The words of the wicked effect harm to others whereas the words of the righteous protect themselves.