Proverbs 12 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Pro 12:1

Pro 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Pro 12:2

Pro 12:2A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.

Pro 12:3

Pro 12:3No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

Pro 12:4

Pro 12:4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Pro 12:5

Pro 12:5The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

Pro 12:6

Pro 12:6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

Pro 12:7

Pro 12:7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.

Pro 12:8

Pro 12:8A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.

Pro 12:9

Pro 12:9Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.

Pro 12:10

Pro 12:10Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Pro 12:11

Pro 12:11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Pro 12:12

Pro 12:12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

Pro 12:13

Pro 12:13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,[fn]
but the righteous escapes from trouble.

Pro 12:14

Pro 12:14From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

Pro 12:15

Pro 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.

Pro 12:16

Pro 12:16The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.

Pro 12:17

Pro 12:17Whoever speaks[fn] the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.

Pro 12:18

Pro 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Pro 12:19

Pro 12:19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Pro 12:20

Pro 12:20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.

Pro 12:21

Pro 12:21No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.

Pro 12:22

Pro 12:22Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Pro 12:23

Pro 12:23A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Pro 12:24

Pro 12:24The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Pro 12:25

Pro 12:25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

Pro 12:26

Pro 12:26One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,[fn]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Pro 12:27

Pro 12:27Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.[fn]

Pro 12:28

Pro 12:28In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(12:13)

Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

(12:17)

Hebrew breathes out

(12:26)

Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully

(12:27)

Or but diligence is precious wealth

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.