Study

12. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² Good people obtain favor from the LORD,
   but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.

    ³ No one can be established through wickedness,
   but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

    ⁴ A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
   but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

    ⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
   but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

    ⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
   but the speech of the upright rescues them.

    ⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
   but the house of the righteous stands firm.

    ⁸ A person is praised according to their prudence,
   and one with a warped mind is despised.

    ⁹ Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
   than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

    ¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
   but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

    ¹¹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
   but those who chase fantasies have no sense.

    ¹² The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
   but the root of the righteous endures.

    ¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
   and so the innocent escape trouble.

    ¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
   and the work of their hands brings them reward.

    ¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,
   but the wise listen to advice.

    ¹⁶ Fools show their annoyance at once,
   but the prudent overlook an insult.

    ¹⁷ An honest witness tells the truth,
   but a false witness tells lies.

    ¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
   but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

    ¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
   but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

    ²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
   but those who promote peace have joy.

    ²¹ No harm overtakes the righteous,
   but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

    ²² The LORD detests lying lips,
   but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

    ²³ The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
   but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.

    ²⁴ Diligent hands will rule,
   but laziness ends in forced labor.

    ²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the heart,
   but a kind word cheers it up.

    ²⁶ The righteous choose their friends carefully,
   but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

    ²⁷ The lazy do not roast The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. any game,
   but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

    ²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;
   along that path is immortality.