Proverbs 12
12
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2Good people obtain favor from the Lord,
but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped mind is despised.
9Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
13Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
and so the innocent escape trouble.
14From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
16Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
17An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.
18The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.
21No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.
25Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
26The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The lazy do not roast#12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 12
12
If You Love Learning
1If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—
how shortsighted to refuse correction!
2A good person basks in the delight of God,
and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
3You can’t find firm footing in a swamp,
but life rooted in God stands firm.
4A hearty wife invigorates her husband,
but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
5The thinking of principled people makes for justice;
the plots of degenerates corrupt.
6The words of the wicked kill;
the speech of the upright saves.
7Wicked people fall to pieces—there’s nothing to them;
the homes of good people hold together.
8A person who talks sense is honored;
airheads are held in contempt.
9Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.
10Good people are good to their animals;
the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them.
11The one who stays on the job has food on the table;
the witless chase whims and fancies.
12What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin,
while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.
Wise People Take Advice
13The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble;
the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
14Well-spoken words bring satisfaction;
well-done work has its own reward.
15Fools are headstrong and do what they like;
wise people take advice.
16Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly;
the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
17Truthful witness by a good person clears the air,
but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
18Rash language cuts and maims,
but there is healing in the words of the wise.
19Truth lasts;
lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
20Evil scheming distorts the schemer;
peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
21No evil can overwhelm a good person,
but the wicked have their hands full of it.
22God can’t stomach liars;
he loves the company of those who keep their word.
23Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge;
talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
24The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work.
25Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.
26A good person survives misfortune,
but a wicked life invites disaster.
27A lazy life is an empty life,
but “early to rise” gets the job done.
28Good men and women travel right into life;
sin’s detours take you straight to hell.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.