Proverbs 12-13

New King James Version

² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

³ A man is not established by wickedness,
But the ^(A)root of the righteous cannot be moved.

^4 (B)An^[a] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is ^(C)like rottenness in his bones.

⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
^6 (D)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
^(E)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

^7 (F)The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸ A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
^(G)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

^9 (H)Better is the one who is ^[b]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

^10 (I)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

^11 (J)He who ^[c]tills his land will be satisfied with ^(K)bread,
But he who follows ^[d]frivolity ^(L)is devoid of ^[e]understanding.

¹² The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
^13 (M)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
^(N)But the righteous will come through trouble.
^14 (O)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
^(P)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

^15 (Q)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
^16 (R)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

^17 (S)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
^18 (T)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
¹⁹ The truthful lip shall be established forever,
^(U)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
^21 (V)No grave ^[f]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
^22 (W)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

^23 (X)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

^24 (Y)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

^25 (Z)Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But ^(AA)a good word makes it glad.

²⁶ The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

^2 (AC)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
^3 (AD)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

^4 (AE)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

⁵ A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
^6 (AF)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

^7 (AG)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

⁸ The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,
^(AH)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ By pride comes nothing but ^(AI)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

^11 (AJ)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But ^(AK)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

¹³ He who ^(AL)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
^14 (AM)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from ^(AN)the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding ^[g]gains ^(AO)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
^16 (AP)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But ^(AQ)a faithful ambassador brings health.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame will come to him who ^[h]disdains correction,
But ^(AR)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

¹⁹ A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

^21 (AS)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But ^(AT)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

^23 (AU)Much food is in the ^[i]fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is ^[j]waste.

^24 (AV)He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him ^[k]promptly.

^25 (AW)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.