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Proverbs 12

The TorahRooted Bible (TRB), translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek.

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. 2 A good man obtains favor from Yahweh, but a man of evil schemes He condemns. 3 A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved. 4 A woman of valor is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rot in his bones. 5 The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them. 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand. 8 A man is praised according to his good sense, but one of twisted heart will be despised. 9 Better is a man lightly esteemed who has a servant than one who plays the great man and lacks bread.

10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. 11 Whoever works his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense. 12 The wicked man covets the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.

13 In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare, but the righteous comes out of trouble. 14 From the fruit of his mouth a man will be satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hands comes back to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool's vexation is known at once, but a prudent man covers an insult. 17 Whoever breathes out truth declares what is right, but a false witness, deceit. 18 There is one whose rash words are like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips will endure forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. 21 No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who act faithfully are His delight. 23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor. 25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. 26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27 The slack man does not roast his game, but diligence is a man's precious wealth. 28 In the path of righteousness is life, and along its way there is no death.

Notes

  • 12:4 "A woman of valor" is eshet chayil; chayil is strength, ability, wealth, and also the word for an army. Boaz calls Ruth "a woman of worth" with the same words (Ruth 3:11), and the book closes with a whole poem on such a woman (31:10-31). The shame of a disgraceful wife eats at her husband from within, like decay in his bones.
  • 12:10 Literally "the righteous knows the soul (nefesh) of his beast": he knows what his animal needs and cares for it. The Torah itself cares for animals: the seventh day is "so that your ox and your donkey may rest" (Exodus 23:12), and "You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain" (Deuteronomy 25:4). The wicked lack even this, and what they call kindness is cruel.
  • 12:16 "Prudent" is arum, the word used of the serpent in Genesis 3:1, "more cunning than any beast of the field." In Proverbs it is used in a good sense: the shrewd person who thinks before acting (12:23; 13:16; 14:8; compare "prudence," ormah, 1:4). The fool shows his anger the same day; the prudent man lets an insult pass without answering it (compare 10:12).
  • 12:28 The last words are literally "and the way of its path, no death" (al-mavet). A few Hebrew manuscripts and early translations read el-mavet, "to death," and several modern versions follow them, turning the line into a contrast with a path that leads to death. Following the Masoretic text, the verse says that death has no power on the way of righteousness, and many readers have heard in it a hint of life beyond death (compare 14:32; 15:24).

Proverbs 11 · Proverbs 13

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