UNROLL
A worn wooden yoke and an ox goad lean on a dry-stone terrace wall at the edge of newly turned earth, in morning shadow, under a calm pale sky.

Solomon’s sayings

Proverbs 12

What would your work look like if God cared how you did it?

28 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–7The father's talksWhy the book exists, then a father to his son
  2. 8–9Wisdom callsHer house and Folly's
  3. 10–22:16Solomon's sayingsTwo lines at a timeChapter 12
  4. 22:17–24The sayings of the wiseThirty sayings, and a few more
  5. 25–29Hezekiah's collectionMore of Solomon, copied out later
  6. 30AgurNumbered sayings from a weary man
  7. 31LemuelA mother's words, and the noble wife

Loving Discipline and Knowledge

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who hates correction is stupid.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Sayings

What stands

  1. The LORD

    Favor or condemnation

    The good man obtains favor from the LORD,

    but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.

  2. Justice

    Roots that hold

    A man cannot be established through wickedness,

    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

  3. Family

    A wife of noble character

    A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,

    but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

  4. Justice

    Plans and counsel

    The plans of the righteous are just,

    but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

  5. Words

    Words that lie in wait

    The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

    but the speech of the upright rescues them.

  6. Justice

    The house that stands

    The wicked are overthrown and perish,

    but the house of the righteous will stand.

  7. Wisdom

    Praised for wisdom

    A man is praised according to his wisdom,

    but a twisted mind is despised.

Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

Reflect

Who can correct you?

Who could correct you, and would you thank them for it? Think of the last time someone did. What did you do with it?

A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

From behind and low, a man leans on a wooden ard behind a pair of oxen, a single furrow opening in stony red earth on a terrace.

The one who works his land will have plenty of food,

but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.

The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,

but the root of the righteous flourishes.

An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,

but a righteous man escapes from trouble.

By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things,

and the work of his hands returns to him.

0:25

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to counsel.

Question

Quick question

A small saying about a farmyard.

In 12:10, what does a righteous man look after?

A short iron sword at rest on a stone bench beside a small clay flask of oil and a strip of clean linen, in plain side light.

Sayings

Sword or healing

  1. Anger

    Overlooking an insult

    A fool’s anger is known at once,

    but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

  2. Justice

    True and false witness

    He who speaks the truth declares what is right,

    but a false witness speaks deceit.

  3. Words

    Sword or healing

    Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,

    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

  4. Truth outlasts a lie

    Truthful lips endure forever,

    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

  5. Anger

    Counselors of peace

    Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,

    but the counselors of peace have joy.

  6. The LORD

    Harm and trouble

    No harm befalls the righteous,

    but the wicked are filled with trouble.

Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself,

but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

The hand of the diligent will rule,

but laziness ends in forced labor.

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,

but a good word cheers it up.

Proverbs 12:25

Pray

Small work, a good word

Ask God to make you faithful in the small work in front of you today. Then ask Him to show you one anxious person, and to give you a good word for them.

You’ve experienced

Proverbs 12

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A verse to carry with you

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

Proverbs 12:25

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