Proverbs Monthly

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.

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,^(M)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.^(N)

¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,^(O)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.^(P)

¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,^(Q)
    but the wise listen to advice.^(R)

¹⁶ Fools^(S) show their annoyance at once,^(T)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.^(U)

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.

²² The Lord detests lying lips,^(AA)
    but he delights^(AB) in people who are trustworthy.^(AC)

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.