Proverbs 12
Proverbs 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period. This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.
Text
Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 12 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation.| Verse | Hebrew | English translation |
| 1 | Whoso loveth knowledge loveth correction; But he that is brutish hateth reproof. | |
| 2 | A good man shall obtain favour of the LORD; But a man of wicked devices will He condemn. | |
| 3 | A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall never be moved. | |
| 4 | A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; But she that doeth shamefully is as rottenness in his bones. | |
| 5 | The thoughts of the righteous are right; But the counsels of the wicked are deceit. | |
| 6 | The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. | |
| 7 | The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand. | |
| 8 | A man shall be commended according to his intelligence; But he that is of a distorted understanding shall be despised. | |
| 9 | Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that playeth the man of rank, and lacketh bread. | |
| 10 | A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. | |
| 11 | He that tilleth his ground shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain things is void of understanding. | |
| 12 | The wicked desireth the prey of evil men; But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. | |
| 13 | In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous cometh out of trouble. | |
| 14 | A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. | |
| 15 | The way of a fool is straight in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. | |
| 16 | A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame. | |
| 17 | He that breatheth forth truth uttereth righteousness; But a false witness deceit. | |
| 18 | There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health. | |
| 19 | The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment. | |
| 20 | Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy. | |
| 21 | There shall no mischief befall the righteous; But the wicked are filled with evil. | |
| 22 | Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD; But they that deal truly are His delight.. | |
| 23 | A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. | |
| 24 | The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be under tribute. | |
| 25 | Care in the heart of a man boweth it down; But a good word maketh it glad. | |
| 26 | The righteous is guided by his friend; But the way of the wicked leadeth them astray. | |
| 27 | The slothful man shall not hunt his prey; But the precious substance of men is to be diligent. | |
| 28 | In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death. |
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex, and Codex Leningradensis.There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Alexandrinus.
Analysis
This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs, also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection". The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for Proverbs 19:7 which consists of three parts.Verse 1
- "Stupid”: from the Hebrew word בַּעַר, baʿar, “stupid, brutish”, which comes from בְּעִיר, beʿir, "beast, cattle";referring to a 'lack of rationality'.
- imperviousness to a word of advice as to a word of rebuke, by reason of one's innate stupidity and self-conceit,.
- inability to recognize sound advice and to act upon it—not least by those used to giving it.
- lacks self-control, both of one's temper and one's tongue.
- eagerness to speak one's mind and offers opinions that advertises one's folly, in contrast to the disciplined, restrained speech of the wise .
Verse 28
- "Pathway": from דֶרֶך נְתִיבָה, derekh netivah, “a way, a path”, with a duplication of meaning. Repointing the first word as a Qal participle would give a meaning “treading a path .”
- "No death": following the Masoretic vocalization of the consonants אל־מות, ʾl mvt, as אַל־מָוֶת, ʾal mavet, which can give a sense of "immortality". Many medieval Hebrew manuscripts and all the versions vocalize it as אֶל־מָוֶת, ʾel mavet, meaning “leads to death”. The Greek Septuagint version reads the whole second clause as “the ways of the revengeful to death”.