Proverbs 12 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~970-930 BC, during the reign of King Solomon
Location
Jerusalem, capital of the united kingdom of Israel
Audience
The people of Israel, particularly young men and court officials receiving wisdom instruction
Situation
Proverbs 12 is part of the Solomonic proverbs (chs. 10-22), a collection of antithetical sayings contrasting the righteous and wise with the wicked and foolish.
Key Background
The book of Proverbs is wisdom literature attributed primarily to Solomon, known for his God-given wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34). These proverbs draw from ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions but are uniquely rooted in Israel's covenant faith in Yahweh. Chapter 12 emphasizes practical outcomes of righteous versus wicked living, aiding moral discernment in daily life.
Anyone who loves being loves but anyone who hates being told they're wrong is just stupid.
A person earns Yahweh's but Yahweh condemns anyone who
No one builds a stable life through but the of those who do right can never be pulled up.
A is her husband's but a who brings shame is like in his bones.
The plans of an person are fair, but the advice the give is full of deceit.
The words of the corrupt are a but the speech of the upright them.
The corrupt are and disappear, but the of the upright endures.
A person is praised for how they but someone with a is despised.
Better to be a who has a servant than to the while going hungry.
An upright person the of their animals, but even the of the corrupt is cruel.
Anyone who their will have plenty to eat, but anyone who chases has no sense.
The corrupt the of other evildoers, but the of the upright produces fruit.
A bad person gets by their own but an upright person escapes trouble.
Good things come to you from what you and what you do with your hands to you.
think whatever they're doing is fine, but a person actually listens to advice.
A fool shows their irritation instantly, but a person an insult.
An tells the truth, but a lying spreads
cut like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings
Truthful words the of but lying words last only a
Deceit fills the hearts of those who but those who plan for are full of
No real comes to the upright, but the corrupt are in
Yahweh lying lips, but people who are his
A person keeps what they know to themselves, but the heart of fools stupidity.
end up in but the lazy end up as
a person down, but a lifts them up.
An upright person is but the path the corrupt take them
A never even cooks what they catch, but a hard worker what they have.
On the of there is -- along that road, there is no