Proverbs 12-14
New Life Version
12 Whoever loves strong teaching loves much learning, but he who hates strong words is foolish.
2 A good man will get favor from the Lord, but He will punish a man who makes sinful plans.
3 A man will not stand by doing what is wrong, but the root of those who are right with God will not be moved.
4 A good wife is the pride and joy of her husband, but she who brings shame is like cancer to his bones.
5 The thoughts of those who are right with God can be trusted, but the words of the sinful are false.
6 The words of the sinful lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the faithful will take them away from trouble.
7 The sinful are destroyed and are no more, but the house of those who are right with God will stand.
8 A man will be praised for his wisdom, but a man with a sinful mind will be hated.
9 A man who has only a little honor and has a servant is better than one who honors himself and does not have bread.
10 A man who is right with God cares for his animal, but the sinful man is hard and has no pity.
11 He who works his land will have all the bread he needs, but he who follows what is of no worth has no wisdom.
12 The sinful man wants what sinful men have, but the root of those who are right with God gives fruit.
13 A sinful man is trapped by the sin of his lips, but those who are right with God will get away from trouble.
14 A man will be filled with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to good teaching.
16 The anger of a fool is known at once, but a wise man does not speak when he is spoken against.
17 He who speaks the truth tells what is right, but a liar tells lies.
18 There is one whose foolish words cut like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Lips that tell the truth will last forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a little while.
20 Lying is in the heart of those who plan what is bad, but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No trouble comes upon those who are right with God, but the sinful are filled with trouble.
22 The Lord hates lying lips, but those who speak the truth are His joy.
23 A wise man hides how much learning he has, but the heart of fools makes known their foolish way.
24 The hand of those who do their best will rule, but the lazy hand will be made to work.
25 Worry in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.
26 The man who is right with God is a teacher to his neighbor, but the way of the sinful leads them the wrong way.
27 The lazy man will not cook the food he has caught, but the man who does his best has what is of great worth.
28 Life is in the way of those who are right with God, and in its path there is no death.
13 A wise son listens when his father tells him the right way, but one who laughs at the truth does not listen when strong words are spoken to him.
2 The one who is careful what he says will have good come to him, but the one who wants to hurt others will have trouble.
3 He who watches over his mouth keeps his life. He who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.
4 The soul of the lazy person has strong desires but gets nothing, but the soul of the one who does his best gets more than he needs.
5 A man who is right with God hates lies, but the actions of a sinful man are hated and he is put to shame.
6 What is right and good watches over the one whose way is without blame, but sin destroys the sinful.
7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, but has many riches.
8 A rich man can use his riches to save his life, but the poor man does not hear strong words spoken to him.
9 Those who are right with God are full of light, but the lamp of the sinful will be put out.
10 Fighting comes only from pride, but wisdom is with those who listen when told what they should do.
11 Riches taken by false ways become less and less, but riches grow for the one who gathers by hard work.
12 Hope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being is a tree of life.
13 He who hates the Word is under its power, but he who fears the Word will be well paid.
14 The teaching of the wise is a well of life, to save one from the nets of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the sinful is hard.
16 Every wise man acts with much learning, but a fool makes his foolish way known.
17 A sinful helper falls into trouble, but a faithful helper brings healing.
18 He who will not listen to strong teaching will become poor and ashamed, but he who listens when strong words are spoken will be honored.
19 A desire that is filled is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to give up what is sinful.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.
21 Trouble follows sinners, but good things will be given to those who are right with God.
22 A good man leaves what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.
23 Much food is in the plowed land of the poor, but it is taken away because of wrong-doing.
24 He who does not punish his son when he needs it hates him, but he who loves him will punish him when he needs it.
25 The man who is right with God has all the food he needs, but the stomach of the sinful man never has enough.
14 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in honor fears the Lord, but he who is sinful in his ways hates Him.
3 A foolish man’s talk brings a stick to his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
4 There is no grain where there are no oxen, but much grain comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful man who tells what he knows will not lie, but the man who is not faithful will lie.
6 One who laughs at the truth looks for wisdom and does not find it, but much learning is easy to him who has understanding.
7 Go away from a foolish man, for you will not find words of much learning.
8 The wisdom of the wise man is to understand what to do, but lying is the foolish way of fools.
9 Fools laugh at sin, but the favor of God is among the faithful.
10 The heart knows when it is bitter, and a stranger cannot share its joy.
11 The house of the sinful will be destroyed, but all will go well in the tent of the faithful.
12 There is a way which looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
13 Even while laughing the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 The man who has gone back into sin will get the fruit of his ways, and a good man will get the fruit of what he does.
15 The one who is easy to fool believes everything, but the wise man looks where he goes.
16 A wise man fears God and turns away from what is sinful, but a fool is full of pride and is not careful.
17 He who has a quick temper acts in a foolish way, and a man who makes sinful plans is hated.
18 Those who are easy to fool are foolish, but the wise have much learning.
19 Sinful men will bow in front of the good, and at the gates of those who are right with God.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.
21 He who hates his neighbor sins, but happy is he who shows loving-favor to the poor.
22 Do not those who make sinful plans go the wrong way? Kindness and truth are for those who plan good.
23 Some good comes from all work. Nothing but talk leads only to being poor.
24 What the wise receive is their riches, but fools are known by their foolish ways.
25 A faithful man who tells what he knows saves lives, but he who tells lies hurts others.
26 There is strong trust in the fear of the Lord, and His children will have a safe place.
27 The fear of the Lord is a well of life. Its waters keep a man from death.
28 The shining-greatness of a king is in many people, but without people a prince has nothing.
29 He who is slow to get angry has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper makes his foolish way look right.
30 A heart that has peace is life to the body, but wrong desires are like the wasting away of the bones.
31 He who makes it hard for the poor brings shame to his Maker, but he who shows loving-favor to those in need honors Him.
32 The sinful is thrown down by his wrong-doing, but the man who is right with God has a safe place when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Being right with God makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his anger is toward the one who brings shame by what he does.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.