Proverbs, 12

1. Ever the friend of admonition is the friend of knowledge; only fools are impa-tient of warning.

2. A kindly man wins the Lord’s favour, a schemer is his enemy.

3. Wickedness shall never thrive; the just have roots immovable.

4. Crowned is his brow, who wins a vigorous wife; sooner let thy bones rot than marry one who shames thee.

5. Honourable thoughts the just conceive, the wicked are all double-dealing;

6. yet, when the accusations of the wicked lay a fatal snare, the just shall find words to deliver them.

7. A turn in their fortunes, and no more is heard of the wicked; only the just have abiding prosperity.

8. Good sense is the measure of a man’s repute; fond fancies are ever despised.

9. Better be poor, and toil to support thyself, than play the great lord with an empty belly.

10. A just man cares for the safety of the beasts he owns; the wicked are heartless through and through.

11. Till field and fill belly; idle pursuits are but foolishness. (Sit long enjoying thy wine, and there is no strong fortress will win thee renown.✻ )

12. In unholy ambitions the wicked put their trust, but it is honesty that strikes deep root.

13. Ruin comes upon the sinner for a word spoken amiss, while honest men find acquittal.

14. When a man is blessed, it is his own words that bear fruit; never son of Adam but had the lot his deeds deserved.

15. A fool is ever right to his own thinking; the wise listen to advice.

16. Fools betray anger on the instant, when prudence would pass the insult by.

17. Nothing but his honest thought a lover of truth declares, a false witness nothing but lies.

18. Rash promises can stab the heart with remorse;✻ wise words bring healing.

19. Lips that speak the truth shall fade never; a lie serves but the haste of the moment.

20. The schemer’s thoughts dwell ever on treachery; for peace be all thy plotting, if thou wouldst have a contented heart.

21. Nothing can befall the just man to do him hurt; the wicked shall have their fill of mischief.

22. Lying lips the Lord cannot abide; keep faith if thou wouldst content him.

23. Prudence says less than it knows; the fool’s heart cannot contain its folly.

24. Busy hands, hands that shall bear the sceptre; idle hands, hands that shall bring tribute.

25. A heart bowed down with anxiety, how a kind word can refresh it!

26. It is well done to put up with loss for a neighbour’s need; the calculations of the sinner do but lead him astray.

27. Never yet did cunning achieve the gains it hoped for; a contented heart is precious as fine gold.✻

28. Wouldst thou attain life, honesty is the high road; by-way there is none but leads to death.