Proverbs12
New Living Translation
1 To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
2 The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.
3 Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.
4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.
5 The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.
7 The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.
8 A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.
9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.
10 The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.
11 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.
13 The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.
14 Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.
15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
16 A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.
17 An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.
18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
21 No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.
23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.
24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
26 The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
27 Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.
28 The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.
Study
Proverbs 12Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 12. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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