Proverbs 12

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

1People who love being taught also love learning. People who hate being corrected are acting like animals.

Note"Brutish" in old English means acting like an animal that cannot think. It does not mean mean or violent.

2A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

2The LORD, who is God, is kind to a good man. But he says a man who plans evil is guilty.

3A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

3Doing wrong will never make a person safe and strong. But the roots of good people hold firm.

4A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

4A good wife is like a crown for her husband. A wife who shames him is like rot inside his bones.

5The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

5What good people plan is fair. What bad people say to do leads to lies.

6The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

6The words of bad people wait to hurt someone, like a trap. But the words of good people save them.

7The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

7Bad people are knocked down, and then they are gone. But the house of a good person keeps standing.

8A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

8People praise a man for being wise. People look down on a man whose thinking is twisted.

9He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

9It is better to seem unimportant and still have a servant. That is better than acting important with no food to eat.

10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

10A good person takes care of his animals. Even when bad people try to be kind, they are cruel.

11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

11A man who works his fields will have plenty of food. A man who chases empty dreams has no sense.

12The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

12Bad people want the stolen things that evil men grab. But good people are like roots that keep growing fruit.

13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

13A bad man's own wrong words catch him like a trap. But a good man gets out of trouble.

14A 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.

14Good words fill a person's life with good things. And a person gets back what his own hands have done.

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

15A fool thinks his own way is always right. A wise person listens to advice.

16A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

16A fool shows his anger right away. A careful person lets an insult go by.

Note"Presently" in old English means right away, not later.

17He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

17A person who tells the truth says what is right. A witness who lies says what is false.

18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

18Careless words stab like a sword. But the words of wise people help others heal.

19The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

19Words that are true last forever. A tongue that lies lasts only a moment.

20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

20People who plan evil have lies in their hearts. People who plan peace have joy.

21There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

21No harm comes to people who do what is right. Bad people get plenty of trouble.

22Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

22The LORD hates lips that tell lies. He is glad with people who are honest.

23A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

23A careful person keeps what he knows to himself. A foolish heart shouts out silly things.

24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

24People who work hard will be in charge. Lazy people will end up doing forced work.

Note"Under tribute" means being forced to work for someone else.

25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

25Worry makes a person's heart heavy and low. A kind word makes it glad again.

26The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

26A good person shows his neighbor a better way. But the ways of bad people lead them wrong.

NoteThis line is hard to read in the old Hebrew. Some Bibles say a good person picks his friends carefully.

27The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

27A lazy man does not even cook the animal he caught. A hard worker treats what he has as precious.

28In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

28The road of doing right leads to life. On that road there is no death.