12 Do you want to know the right way to live?
Then you must accept it when people warn you that you have done something wrong.
Only stupid people hate it when people warn them.
2 The Lord helps good people.
But he punishes people who want to do evil things.
3 No one can use wicked things to make himself safe.
But a righteous person has strong roots.
4 A good wife will bring honour to her husband, like a crown.
But a wife who brings shame to her husband will take away his strength.
5 Righteous people want to do things that are right.
But do not trust the advice of wicked people.
6 The words of wicked people are like a trap that will kill good people.
But the words of honest people will save people's lives.
7 Wicked people soon come to an end and they disappear.
But the families of righteous people will continue to be strong.
8 People will praise a wise person, as much as his wisdom deserves.
But no one will respect a person who is stupid.
9 It is better to be a humble person who has a servant
than a proud person who has no food to eat.
10 Righteous people take care of their animals.
But wicked people are cruel even when they think they are kind.
11 A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat.
But anyone who works only on useless things is foolish.
12 Wicked people want to take the things that other bad people have.
But righteous people remain strong, with deep roots.
13 The lies of evil people put them in trouble.
But righteous people escape from trouble.
14 If you say good things, you will receive good things that make you happy.
You will receive what you deserve from the things that you do.
15 Foolish people always do what seems right to them.
But wise people listen to advice from others.
16 When a fool becomes angry, everybody knows it!
But a careful person keeps quiet when someone insults him.
17 Honest people speak the truth in court.
But a person who tells lies never says what is true.
18 If you speak in a careless way, you may hurt other people.
But when wise people speak, it makes people feel well.
19 True words continue to be true for ever.
But people quickly see that lies are lies.
20 Someone who wants to cause trouble has a mind that is full of lies.
But someone who wants to bring peace has a mind that is full of joy.
21 Trouble keeps away from righteous people.
But wicked people have trouble all the time.
22 The Lord hates people who tell lies.
But he is pleased with people who do what they promise to do.
23 Careful people keep quiet about how much they know.
But foolish people show everyone how silly they are.
24 If you work hard, you will become a leader.
But if you are lazy, you will become a slave.
25 If you worry all the time, it will make you sad.
But kind words will make you happy.
26 A righteous person gives good advice to his friends.
But wicked people are always taking the wrong path.
27 A lazy person does not cook the animals that he has caught.
But if you work hard, you will enjoy many valuable things.
28 If you do what is right, you will find true life.
Along that path, there is no death.
12 Whoever loves discipline loves to learn; whoever hates to be corrected is stupid.
2 It is good to learn what pleases the Lord , because he condemns those who plan to do wrong.
3 Evil people are never safe, but good people remain safe and secure.
4 A good wife is like a crown to her husband, but a shameful wife is like a cancer.
5 Good people are honest and fair in all they do, but those who are evil lie and cannot be trusted.
6 Evil people use their words to hurt others, but the words from good people can save others from danger.
7 When evil people are destroyed, they are gone and forgotten, but good people are remembered long after they are gone.
8 You praise people for their intelligence, but no one respects those who are stupid.
9 It is better to appear unimportant and have a servant than to pretend to be important and have no food.
10 Good people take good care of their animals, but the wicked know only how to be cruel. [ a ]
11 Farmers who work their land have plenty of food, but those who waste their time on worthless projects are foolish.
12 The wicked want a share of what an evil man might catch. But like a plant with deep roots, a good man is the one who produces the most. [ b ]
13 The wicked are trapped by their foolish words, but good people escape from such trouble.
14 People get good things for the words they say, and they are rewarded for the work they do.
15 Fools always think their own way is best, but wise people listen to what others tell them.
16 Fools are easily upset, but wise people avoid insulting others.
17 Good people speak the truth and can be trusted in court, but liars make bad witnesses.
18 Speak without thinking, and your words can cut like a knife. Be wise, and your words can heal.
19 Lies last only a moment, but the truth lasts forever.
20 People who work for evil make trouble, but those who plan for peace bring happiness.
21 The Lord will keep good people safe, but evil people will have many troubles.
22 The Lord hates people who tell lies, but he is pleased with those who tell the truth.
23 Smart people don’t tell everything they know, but fools tell everything and show they are fools.
24 Those who work hard will be put in charge of others, but lazy people will have to work like slaves.
25 Worry takes away your joy, but a kind word makes you happy.
26 Good people are careful about choosing their friends, but evil people always choose the wrong ones.
27 Lazy people don’t get what they want, but riches come to those who work hard.
28 Along the path of goodness there is life; that is the way to live forever. [ c ]
12 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord : but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord : but they that deal truly are his delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
12 One who loves [ a ] discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
2 A ( A ) good person will obtain favor from the Lord ,
But He will condemn a person [ b ] who devises evil.
3 A person will ( B ) not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the ( C ) righteous will not be moved.
4 An [ c ] ( D ) excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like ( E ) rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The ( F ) words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the ( G ) mouth of the upright will rescue them.
7 The ( H ) wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the ( I ) house of the righteous will stand.
8 A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [ d ] mind will be despised.
9 Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A ( J ) righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One ( K ) who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks [ e ] sense.
12 The ( L ) wicked person desires the [ f ] plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous ( M ) yields fruit .
13 [ g ] An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the ( N ) righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be ( O ) satisfied with good by the fruit of his [ h ] words,
And the ( P ) deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The ( Q ) way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A ( R ) fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who ( S ) speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the ( T ) tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a ( U ) lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 ( V ) No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 ( W ) Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord ,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A ( X ) prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [ i ] lazy hand will be ( Y ) put to forced labor.
25 ( Z ) Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a ( AA ) good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 [ j ] A lazy person does not [ k ] roast his prey,
But the ( AB ) precious possession of a person is diligence.
28 ( AC ) In the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid. ( A )
2 Good people obtain favor from the Lord , ( B )
but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. ( C )
3 No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted. ( D )
4 A wife of noble character ( E ) is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. ( F )
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. ( G )
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, ( H )
but the house of the righteous stands firm. ( I )
8 A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped ( J ) 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, ( K )
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. ( L )
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, ( O )
and the work of their hands brings them reward. ( P )
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies. ( V )
18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, ( W )
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ( X )
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. ( Y )
21 No harm overtakes the righteous, ( Z )
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, ( AD )
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. ( AE )
24 Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor. ( AF )
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, ( AG )
but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray. ( AH )
27 The lazy do not roast [ a ] any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life; ( AI )
along that path is immortality.
