Proverbs 12

¹ Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, stupid are those who hate correction.

² The honest obtains Yahweh's favour, the schemer incurs his condemnation.

³ No one is made secure by wickedness, but nothing shakes the roots of the upright.

⁴ A capable wife, her husband's crown, a shameless wife, a cancer in his bones.

⁵ The plans of the upright are honest, the intrigues of the wicked are full of deceit.

⁶ The words of the wicked are snares to shed blood, what the honest say keeps them safe.

⁷ Once thrown down, the wicked are no more, but the house of the upright stands firm.

⁸ Prudence wins praise, but a tortuous heart incurs only contempt.

⁹ Better a common fel ow who has a slave than someone who gives himself airs and has nothing to eat.

¹⁰ The upright has compassion on his animals, but the heart of the wicked is ruthless.

¹¹ Whoever works his land shall have bread and to spare, but no one who chases fantasies has anysense.

¹² The godless delights in the snare of the wicked, but the root of the upright bears fruit.

¹³ In the sin of the lips lies a disastrous trap, but the upright finds a way out of misfortune.

¹⁴ Abundance of good things is the fruit of the lips; labour brings its own return.

¹⁵ Fools think the way they go is straight, the wise listens to advice.

¹⁶ The fool shows anger straightaway, the discreet conceals dislike.

¹⁷ To tel the truth is to further justice, a false witness is nothing but deceit.

¹⁸ Thoughtless words can wound like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Sincere lips endure for ever, the lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of the schemer, joy with those who give counsels of peace.

²¹ No harm can come to the upright, but the wicked are swamped by misfortunes.

²² Lying lips are abhorrent to Yahweh; dear to him those who make truth their way of life.

²³ The discreet keeps knowledge hidden, the heart of fools proclaims their folly.

²⁴ For the diligent hand, authority; for the slack hand, forced labour.

²⁵ Worry makes a heart heavy, a kindly word makes it glad.

²⁶ The upright shows the way to a friend; the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The idle has no game to roast; diligence is anyone's most precious possession.

²⁸ In the way of uprightness is life, the ways of the vengeful lead to death.