Proverbs 12
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Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Proverbs 12:1-28
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.
9Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
28In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Prov. 12:1-28
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 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.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
I remember when I was a teenager and had an opinion about everything and wanted to share it. But the older I get, the more I prefer to listen.
Once I received an e-mail from a Russian female colleague with a request that struck me as completely inappropriate. She asked for information about my activities that was beyond the realm of her responsibility. I cringed while reading the request, but decided not to send off an inappropriate angry response but instead seek more information. I’m glad I did.
A few minutes later my colleague wrote to say that the information this lady was asking for was not for her personally, but for our Department, which had every right to seek for that information.
People who fail to control their emotions face the specter of embarrassment and shame. “A fool's wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame” (v. 16). Before allowing yourself to feel annoyed about a perceived slight, seek more information from the source. When someone comes to you with a complaint or a suggestion, get as much information as you can and then repeat what you have heard to make sure you understood the issue correctly.
Indeed, “a prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness” (v. 23).
Andrew McChesney
Editor, Adventist Mission (as of this writing)