Proverbs 12

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
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 1 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 2 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 3 tills his land will be satisfied with k bread,
But he who follows 4 frivolity l is devoid of 5 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 6 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 a 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.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:25
    When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:23
    Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
    1 Corinthians 11:7
    For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:30
    A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.
    Habakkuk 3:16
    When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:11
    If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
    Proverbs 1:18
    But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:3
    In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 37:35 - 37
    I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
    Proverbs 11:21
    Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
    Matthew 7:24 - 27
    Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:17
    "Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him."
    Proverbs 18:3
    When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 13:7
    There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 25:4
    You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 3:19
    In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 28:19
    He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
  12. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:32
    Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.
  13. Cross References
    Proverbs 18:7
    A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
  14. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:9
    Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.
  15. Cross References
    Proverbs 13:2
    A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
    Proverbs 15:23
    A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
    Proverbs 18:20
    A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
  16. Cross References
    Job 34:11
    For He repays man according to his work, And ma...
    Proverbs 1:31
    Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own...
    Proverbs 24:12
    If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does...
    Isaiah 3:10
    Say to the righteous that it shall be well with...
    Isaiah 3:11
    Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, Fo...
    Hosea 4:9
    And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I...
  17. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:7
    Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
    Luke 18:11
    The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:13
    A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
    Proverbs 29:11
    A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:5
    A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 57:4
    My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
    Proverbs 4:22
    For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
    Proverbs 15:4
    A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 52:4
    You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
    Psalms 52:5
    God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
    Proverbs 19:9
    A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 91:10
    No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.
    Proverbs 1:33
    But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.
    1 Peter 3:13
    And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
  23. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:17
    A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood.
    Proverbs 11:20
    Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
    Revelation 22:15
    But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 13:16
    Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly.
  25. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:4
    He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
  26. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:13
    A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
  27. Cross References
    Isaiah 50:4
    The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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