Proverbs 12:18-16:24

18The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

21No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

23The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.

24Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

25Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

26The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27The lazy do not roast The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. 28In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.

1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

2From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

3Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

4A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

5The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.

6Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.

9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

11Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

13Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

15Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

16All who are prudent act with Or prudent protect themselves through knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

18Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.

19A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

20Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

21Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

22A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

23An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

24Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. 25The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

1The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

2Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

3A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

5An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

6The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

7Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

9Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

10Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

14The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.

15The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.

16The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

21It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

22Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find Or show love and faithfulness.

23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.

25A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.

26Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

28A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.

29Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

30A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

31Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

32When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.

33Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. 35A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

5A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

6The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.

8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

9The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

11Death and Destruction Hebrew Abaddon lie open before the LORD — how much more do human hearts!

12Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

13A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

17Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

21Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

23A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

24The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.

27The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.

28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

29The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

31Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.

32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. 33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD .

3Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

4The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

7When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

8Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

9In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

10The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.

11Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD ; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.

13Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.

15When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

17The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD .

21The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Or words make a person persuasive

22Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

23The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

24Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.