CHAPTER 12

                ¹Who loves reproof loves knowledge,

                    but who hates rebuke is a brute.

                ²The good man finds favor from the LORD,

                    but He will condemn the cunning schemer.

                ³A man will not be firm-founded in wickedness,

                    but the root of the righteous is not shaken.

                ⁴A worthy woman is her husband’s crown,

                    but like rot in his bones a shameful wife.

                ⁵The plans of the righteous are justice;

                    the designs of the wicked, deceit.

                ⁶The words of the wicked are a bloody ambush,

                    but the mouth of the upright will save them.

                ⁷Overturn the wicked and they are gone,

                    but the house of the righteous will stand.

                ⁸By his insight will a man be praised,

                    but the crooked of heart is despised.

                Better a scorned man who has a slave

                    than one who fancies himself honored and lacks bread.

                ⁹The righteous man knows the life of his beast,

                    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

                ¹⁰Who works his soil is sated with bread,

                    but who pursues empty things lacks sense.

                ¹²The wicked covets the evil men’s trap,

                    but the root of the righteous stands firm.

                ¹³In the crime of lips is an evil snare,

                    but the righteous comes out from straits.

                ¹⁴From the fruit of a man’s mouth he is sated with good,

                    a man gets recompense for his acts.

                ¹⁵The way of a dolt seems right in his eyes,

                    but who listens to counsel is wise.

                ¹⁶The anger of a dolt becomes known in a trice,

                    but the shrewd man conceals his disgrace.

                ¹⁷A faithful deposer will tell what is right,

                    but a lying witness—deceit.

                ¹⁸One may speak out like sword stabs,

                    but the tongue of the wise is healing.

                ¹⁹True speech stands firm always,

                    but a mere moment—a lying tongue.

                ²⁰Deceit is in the heart of plotters of evil,

                    but councillors of peace have joy.

                ²¹No wrong will befall the righteous,

                    but the wicked are filled with harm.

                ²²The LORD’s loathing—lying lips,

                    but who act in good faith are His pleasure.

                ²³A shrewd man conceals what he knows,

                    but the heart of dullards proclaims folly.

                ²⁴The diligent’s hand will rule,

                    and the shiftless put to forced labor.

                ²⁵Worry in a man’s heart brings him low,

                    but a good word will gladden him.

                ²⁶The righteous exceeds his fellow man,

                    but the wicked’s way leads him astray.

                ²⁷The shiftless will not roast his game,

                    but a man’s wealth is precious gold.

                ²⁸On the path of righteousness is life,

                    but the way of mischief is to death.