Add parallel Print Page Options

Chapter 12

On the Way of Righteousness[a]

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but the one who hates correction is stupid.
The good man wins the favor of the Lord,
    but the malicious man incurs his condemnation.
No one earns security by wickedness,
    but the roots of the righteous will not be shaken.
A good wife is her husband’s crown,
    but one who disgraces him is like decay in his bones.
The aims of the righteous are honorable,
    but the schemes of the wicked are full of deceit.
The words of the wicked are snares to shed blood,
    but those of the upright keep them safe.
Once the wicked are overthrown, they are no more,
    but the house of the righteous remains firm.
A man will be praised if he exhibits good sense,
    but one with a perverse mind is despised.
It is better to be a laborer and have food to eat
    than to put on airs and have an empty stomach.
10 A righteous person supplies the needs of his animals,[b]
    but the heart of the wicked is without mercy.
11 One who tills his land has an abundance of food,
    but he who chases fantasies[c] is a fool.
12 The wicked desire the prey of evil men,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The wicked man is ensnared by the sin of his lips,
    but the righteous frees himself from misfortune.
14 An abundance of good things flow from the fruit of one’s lips,
    and a man’s labor will give him a suitable reward.[d]
15 The fool is convinced of the rightness of his ways,
    but the man who listens to advice shows wisdom.
16 A fool is quick to show his anger,
    but a prudent man ignores an insult.
17 A truthful witness is honest in his testimony,
    but a false witness testifies deceitfully.
18 Thoughtless words wound like a sword thrust,
    but the tongue of the wise produces healing.
19 Truthful speech endures forever,
    but deceitful lies last only for a moment.[e]
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
    but those who counsel peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
    but endless are the misfortunes of the wicked.
22 The Lord abhors lying lips,
    but he delights in those who are truthful.
23 A prudent man does not flaunt his knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their folly.
24 Authority will be granted to the diligent,
    but the lazy will be enslaved.
25 Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down,
    but a kind word makes it glad.
26 A righteous man gives good advice to his neighbor,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A lazy man never reaps a rich harvest,
    but the diligent man acquires precious wealth.
28 The way of righteousness leads to life,
    but the way of vengeance leads to death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:1 In this endless and already known variation on the theme of the righteous and the wicked and the sage and the fool, one could perhaps note a more marked insistence on truth in human relationships and on dislike of the foolish word. However, each maxim brings its own observation or its own teaching from popular good sense and sometimes from its religious certitude. From time to time, opposing portraits of women are evoked.
  2. Proverbs 12:10 A person who is good is kind even to animals (see Prov 27:23; Deut 25:4).
  3. Proverbs 12:11 This text is repeated almost verbatim in Prov 28:19. Chases fantasies: schemes to acquire ill-gotten goods.
  4. Proverbs 12:14 A man’s words of wisdom will yield a good harvest in the same way that his physical labor will bring him an abundant crop (see note on Prov 1:31; see also Job 34:11).
  5. Proverbs 12:19 A person who has spoken the truth has said it once and for all and need not open the mouth again; a liar must fall back on ever-new lies.

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(B)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(C)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(D)

A wife of noble character(E) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(F)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(G)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(H)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(I)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(J) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(K)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(L)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(M)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(N)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(O)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(P)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(Q)
    but the wise listen to advice.(R)

16 Fools(S) show their annoyance at once,(T)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(U)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(V)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(W)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(X)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(Y)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(Z)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(AA)
    but he delights(AB) in people who are trustworthy.(AC)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(AD)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(AE)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(AF)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(AG)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(AH)

27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(AI)
    along that path is immortality.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.