World English Bible
- Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
- A good man shall obtain favor from the LORD, but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.
- A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
- A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
- The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
- The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
- The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.
- A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.
- Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
- A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
- He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
- The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
- An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
- A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.
- The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.
- A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
- He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
- There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
- Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
- Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
- No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.
- Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who do the truth are his delight.
- A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
- The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
- Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.
- A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
- In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.
“Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
—Proverbs 12:1, World English Bible
Proverbs 12 begins with correction and ends with a road on which “there is no death.” These are not separate ideas. The road to life begins when we become willing to be changed.
The Hebrew word translated stupid is baʿar, meaning brutish or unreasoning, like an animal that cannot understand moral instruction. Yet verse 10 says that the righteous person “respects the life of his animal.” Literally, he knows the nephesh—the living soul, needs, and inner condition—of his beast. The contrast is striking: the person who rejects correction becomes less truly human, while the wise person becomes so deeply human that even an animal’s suffering matters to him.
Biblical wisdom is not cleverness. It is restored creatureliness: receiving instruction from God, caring for weaker creatures, cultivating the earth, listening to counsel, and refusing to pretend that we are self-made.
This chapter repeatedly speaks of roots, houses, bones, hearts, hands, fruit, and paths. Righteousness is not an abstract religious mood; it enters the whole structure of life. It steadies a household, strengthens the bones, governs the tongue, directs the hands, and determines the road beneath one’s feet.
In ancient Israel, a “house” meant more than a building. It included family, land, livestock, livelihood, and future generations. Thus, when verse 7 says that “the house of the righteous shall stand,” it describes a life whose faithfulness shelters others long after the faithful person is gone.
Wickedness, by contrast, feeds upon illusion. It plots, boasts, lies, chases fantasies, and desires another person’s plunder. Verse 9 exposes the honor culture of the ancient world: it is better to possess quiet sufficiency than to perform importance while going hungry. Pride spends reality to purchase appearance.
Truth lasts because it agrees with God’s world. A lie may move quickly, but it has no roots.
“There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals” (Proverbs 12:18, World English Bible). Speech is presented almost sacramentally: invisible words produce bodily consequences. Anxiety bows the heart down; a good word raises it again.
Christ is the supreme Wise One whose words heal, yet He also allowed Himself to be pierced by the violence of human falsehood. At the cross, the Truth endured our lies and answered them not with retaliation, but with forgiveness. In Him, correction is no longer mere condemnation. It becomes the surgery of grace.
Today, ask not only, “Am I correct?” but, “Am I correctable?” The uncorrectable heart is already drifting from reality. The teachable heart has stepped onto the path of life.
Suggested readings: Psalm 141:5; Matthew 7:24–27;
James 3:5–18; Hebrews 12:5–11
Suggested hymn: “Take My Life, and Let It Be”
Lord of truth, make me teachable. Root me in what is real, free me from the need to appear important, and make my words instruments of healing. Teach me to receive correction as grace and to walk in the way of Christ, where righteousness flowers into life. Amen.