12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
12:2 Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
12:3 No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
12:5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
12:7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
12:8 A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.
12:9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
12:10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
12:11 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12:12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
12:13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
12:14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
12:16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
12:17 An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
12:20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
12:21 No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
12:22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
12:23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
12:24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
12:27 The lazy do not roast* any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. / *The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
12:28 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.