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The Bible Proverbs Chapter 12

Proverbs 12

Παροιμίαι

1 Ο ἀγαπῶν παιδείαν, ἀγαπᾷ αἴσθησιν, ὁ δὲ μισῶν ἐλέγχους ἄφρων.

He that loves instruction loves sense, but he that hates reproofs is a fool.

2 κρείσων ὁ εὑρὼν χάριν παρὰ Κυρίῳ, ἀνὴρ δὲ παράνομος παρασιωπηθήσεται.

He that has found favour with the Lord [is made] better; but a transgressor shall be passed over in silence.

3 οὐ κατορθώσει ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἀνόμου, αἱ δὲ ρίζαι τῶν δικαίων οὐκ ἐξαρθήσονται.

A man shall not prosper by wickedness; but the roots of the righteous shall not be taken up.

4 γυνὴ ἀνδρεία στέφανος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς· ὥσπερ δὲ ἐν ξύλῳ σκώληξ, οὕτως ἄνδρα ἀπόλλυσι γυνὴ κακοποιός.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but as a worm in wood, so a bad woman destroys her husband.

5 λογισμοὶ δικαίων κρίματα, κυβερνῶσι δὲ ἀσεβεῖς δόλους.

The thoughts of the righteous [are true] judgements; but ungodly men devise deceits.

6 λόγοι ἀσεβῶν δόλιοι, στόμα δὲ ὀρθῶν ρύσεται αὐτούς.

The words of ungodly men are crafty; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

7 οὗ ἐὰν στραφῇ ὁ ἀσεβής, ἀφανίζεται, οἶκοι δὲ δικαίων παραμένουσι.

When the ungodly is overthrown, he vanishes away; but the houses of the just remain.

8 στόμα συνετοῦ ἐγκωμιάζεται ὑπὸ ἀνδρός, νωθροκάρδιος δὲ μυκτηρίζεται.

The mouth of an understanding [man] is praised by a man; but he that is dull of heart is had in derision.

9 κρείσσων ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ ἢ τιμὴν ἑαυτῷ περιτιθεὶς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἄρτου.

Better is a man in dishonour serving himself, than one honouring himself and lacking bread.

10 δίκαιος οἰκτείρει ψυχὰς κτηνῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ σπλάγχνα τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἀνελεήμονα.

A righteous man has pity for the lives of his cattle; but the bowels of the ungodly are unmerciful.

11 ὁ ἐργαζόμενος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γῆν ἐμπλησθήσεται ἄρτων, οἱ δὲ διώκοντες μάταια ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν. 11α ὅς ἐστιν ἡδὺς ἐν οἴνων διατριβαῖς, ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ ὀχυρώμασι καταλείψει ἀτιμίαν.

He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread; but they that pursue vanities are void of understanding. He that enjoys himself in banquets of wine, shall leave dishonour in his own strong holds.

12 ἐπιθυμίαι ἀσεβῶν κακαί, αἱ δὲ ρίζαι τῶν εὐσεβῶν ἐν ὀχυρώμασι.

The desires of the ungodly are evil; but the roots of the godly are firmly set.

13 δι᾿ ἁμαρτίαν χειλέων ἐμπίπτει εἰς παγίδας ἁμαρτωλός, ἐκφεύγει δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν δίκαιος. 13α ὁ βλέπων λεῖα ἐλεηθήσεται, ὁ δὲ συναντῶν ἐν πύλαις ἐκθλίψει ψυχάς.

For the sin of [his] lips a sinner falls into snare; but a righteous man escapes from them. He whose looks are gentle shall be pitied, but he that contends in the gates will afflict souls.

14 ἀπὸ καρπῶν στόματος ψυχὴ ἀνδρὸς πλησθήσεται ἀγαθῶν, ἀνταπόδομα δὲ χειλέων αὐτοῦ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.

The soul of a man shall be filled with good from the fruits of his mouth; and the recompence of his lips shall be given to him.

15 ὁδοὶ ἀφρόνων ὀρθαὶ ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν, εἰσακούει δὲ συμβουλίας σοφός.

The ways of fools are right in their own eyes; but a wise man hearkens to counsels.

16 ἄφρων αὐθημερὸν ἐξαγγέλλει ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ, κρύπτει δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀτιμίαν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος.

A fool declares his wrath the same day; but a prudent man hides his own disgrace.

17 ἐπιδεικνυμένην πίστιν ἀπαγγέλλει δίκαιος, ὁ δὲ μάρτυς τῶν ἀδίκων δόλιος.

A righteous man declares the open truth; but an unjust witness is deceitful.

18 εἰσὶν οἳ λέγοντες τιτρώσκουσι μαχαίρᾳ, γλῶσσαι δὲ σοφῶν ἰῶνται.

Some wound as they speak, [like] swords; but the tongues of the wise heal.

19 χείλη ἀληθινὰ κατορθοῖ μαρτυρίαν, μάρτυς δὲ ταχὺς γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἄδικον.

True lips establish testimony; but a hasty witness has an unjust tongue.

20 δόλος ἐν καρδίᾳ τεκταινομένου κακά, οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι εἰρήνην εὐφρανθήσονται.

[There is] deceit in the heart of him that imagines evil; but they that love peace shall rejoice.

21 οὐκ ἀρέσει τῷ δικαίῳ οὐδὲν ἄδικον, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς πλησθήσονται κακῶν.

No injustice will please a just man; but the ungodly will be filled with mischief.

22 βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ χείλη ψευδῆ, ὁ δὲ ποιῶν πίστεις δεκτὸς παρ᾿ αὐτῷ.

Lying lips are a abomination to the Lord; but he that deals faithfully is accepted with him.

23 ἀνὴρ συνετὸς θρόνος αἰσθήσεως, καρδία δὲ ἀφρόνων συναντήσεται ἀραῖς.

An understanding man is a throne of wisdom; but the heart of fools shall meet with curses.

24 χεὶρ ἐκλεκτῶν κρατήσει εὐχερῶς, δόλιοι δὲ ἔσονται ἐν προνομῇ.

The hand of chosen men shall easily obtain rule; but the deceitful shall be for a prey.

25 φοβερὸς λόγος καρδίαν ταράσσει ἀνδρὸς δικαίου, ἀγγελία δὲ ἀγαθὴ εὐφραίνει αὐτόν.

A terrible word troubles the heart of a righteous man; but a good message rejoices him.

26 ἐπιγνώμων δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ φίλος ἔσται, αἱ δὲ γνῶμαι τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἀνεπιεικεῖς. ἁμαρτάνοντας καταδιώξεται κακὰ ἡ δὲ ὁδὸς τῶν ἀσεβῶν πλανήσει αὐτούς.

A just arbitrator shall be his own friend; but mischief shall pursue sinners; and the way of ungodly men shall lead them astray.

27 οὐκ ἐπιτεύξεται δόλιος θήρας, κτῆμα δὲ τίμιον ἀνὴρ καθαρός.

A deceitful man shall catch no game; but a blameless man is a precious possession.

28 ἐν ὁδοῖς δικαιοσύνης ζωή, ὁδοὶ δὲ μνησικάκων εἰς θάνατον.

In the ways of righteousness is life; but the ways of those that remember injuries [lead] to death.

Greek: the Septuagint as the Orthodox Media Network published it (Mount Athos); 2 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh from Brenton's edition (1851). English: Brenton's translation (1851), its spelling updated by Michael Paul Johnson; public domain. About these texts.