Proverbs12
New American Standard
1One who loves discipline loves knowledge, But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
2A good person will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a person who devises evil.
3A person will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6The words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood, But the mouth of the upright will rescue them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.
8A person will be praised according to his insight, But one of perverse mind will be despised.
9Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10A righteous person has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11One who works his land will have plenty of bread, But one who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
12The wicked person desires the plunder of evil people, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14A person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16A fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17One who declares truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.
18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
21No harm happens to the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23A prudent person conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy hand will be put to forced labor.
25Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
26The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27A lazy person does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a person is diligence.
28In the way of righteousness there is life, And in its pathway there is no death.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 12.
v1
Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes.
v2
The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned.
v3
Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are firmly fixed.
Key Words
אָהַב: to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
מוּסָר: properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint
דַּעַת: knowledge
שָׂנֵא: to hate (personally)
תּוֹכֵחָה: chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)
בַּעַר: properly, foot (as consumed); i.e. (by exten.) of cattle brutishness; (concretely) stupid
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
פּוּק: to issue, i.e. furnish; causatively, to secure; figuratively, to succeed
רָצוֹן: delight (especially as shown)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Proverbs 12Jesus' parable of the house built on the rock or sand parallel to the house of the righteous standing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mosaic law protecting laboring beasts, reflecting the righteous man's care for his animal's life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The promise that no plague or evil shall befall the dwell of the righteous under God's protection.
Supported by JFB
Parallel proverb linking instruction with life, and the refusal of reproof with error.
Supported by JFB
The righteous depicted as a deeply rooted, unmovable tree by the water.
Supported by JFB
Detailed portrait of the virtuous woman who is a crown to her husband.
Supported by JFB
Contrast between the hand of the diligent making rich and the slack hand leading to poverty.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The unmovable root of the righteous compared to a tree planted by rivers of water.
Supported by JFB
The security of the righteous who shall never be moved.
Supported by JFB
Contrast of those making themselves rich but having nothing versus those seemingly poor.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Tillage and food contrasted with waste through want of judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament fulfillment showing all things work together for good to the just.
Supported by JFB
Keeping the mouth and tongue to keep the soul out of troubles.
Supported by JFB
Being swift to hear and slow to wrath, matching the prudent man covering shame.
Supported by JFB
Diligence as a precious substance, contrasted with laziness in the same chapter.
Supported by JFB