Proverbs 12
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Proverbs chapter 12 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. The translator's notes for this chapter (2) follow the text. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.
Proverbs 12
1He that loves instruction loves sense, but he that hates reproofs is a fool.Ὁ ἀγαπῶν παιδείαν, ἀγαπᾷ αἴσθησιν· ὁ δὲ μισῶν ἐλέγχους, ἄφρων.
2* He that has found favor with the Lord is made better; but a transgressor shall be passed over in silence.Κρείσσων ὁ εὑρὼν χάριν παρὰ Κυρίῳ, ἀνὴρ δὲ παράνομος παρασιωπηθήσεται.
3A man shall not prosper by wickedness; but the roots of the righteous shall not be taken up.Οὐ κατορθώσει ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἀνόμου, αἱ δὲ ῥίζαι τῶν δικαίων οὐκ ἐξαρθήσονται.
4A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but as a worm in wood, so a bad woman destroys her husband.Γυνὴ ἀνδρεία στέφανος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς· ὥσπερ δὲ ἐν ξύλῳ σκώληξ, οὕτως ἄνδρα ἀπόλλυσι γυνὴ κακοποιός.
5The thoughts of the righteous are true judgments; but ungodly men devise deceits.Λογισμοὶ δικαίων κρίματα, κυβερνῶσι δὲ ἀσεβεῖς δόλους.
6The words of ungodly men are crafty; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.Λόγοι ἀσεβῶν δόλιοι, στόμα δὲ ὀρθῶν ῥύσεται αὐτούς.
7When the ungodly is overthrown, he vanishes away; but the houses of the just remain.Οὗ ἐὰν στραφῇ ὁ ἀσεβὴς, ἀφανίζεται, οἶκοι δὲ δικαίων παραμένουσι·
8The mouth of an understanding man is praised by a man; but he that is dull of heart is had in derision.Στόμα συνετοῦ ἐγκωμιάζεται ὑπὸ ἀνδρὸς, νωθροκάρδιος δὲ μυκτηρίζεται.
9Better is a man in dishonor serving himself, than one honouring himself and lacking bread.Κρείσσων ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ, ἢ τιμὴν ἑαυτῷ περιτιθεὶς καὶ προσδεόμενος ἄρτου.
10A righteous man has pity for the lives of his cattle; but the bowels of the ungodly are unmerciful.Δίκαιος οἰκτείρει ψυχὰς κτηνῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ σπλάγχνα τῶν ἀσεβῶν ἀνελεήμονα.
11He 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 dishonor in his own strong holds.Ὁ ἐργαζόμενος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γῆν, ἐμπλησθήσεται ἄρτων, οἱ δὲ διώκοντες μάταια, ἐνδεεῖς φρενῶν·
11aὅς ἐστιν ἡδὺς ἐν οἴνων διατριβαῖς, ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ ὀχυρώμασι καταλείψει ἀτιμίαν.
12The desires of the ungodly are evil; but the roots of the godly are firmly set.Ἐπιθυμίαι ἀσεβῶν κακαὶ, αἱ δὲ ῥίζαι τῶν εὐσεβῶν ἐν ὀχυρώμασι.
13For 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.Διʼ ἁμαρτίαν χειλέων ἐμπίπτει εἰς παγίδας ἁμαρτωλὸς, ἐκφεύγει δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν δίκαιος·
13aὁ βλέπων λεῖα ἐλεηθήσεται, ὁ δὲ συναντῶν ἐν πύλαις ἐκθλίψει ψυχάς.
14The 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.Ἀπὸ καρπῶν στόματος ψυχὴ ἀνδρὸς πλησθήσεται ἀγαθῶν, ἀνταπόδομα δὲ χειλέων αὐτοῦ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
15The ways of fools are right in their own eyes; but a wise man hearkens to counsels.Ὁδοὶ ἀφρόνων ὀρθαὶ ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν, εἰσακούει δὲ συμβουλίας σοφός.
16A fool declares his wrath the same day; but a prudent man hides his own disgrace.Ἄφρων αὐθημερὸν ἐξαγγέλλει ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ, κρύπτει δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀτιμίαν ἀνὴρ πανοῦργος.
17A righteous man declares the open truth; but an unjust witness is deceitful.Ἐπιδεικνυμένην πίστιν ἀπαγγέλλει δίκαιος, ὁ δὲ μάρτυς τῶν ἀδίκων δόλιος.
18Some wound as they speak, like swords; but the tongues of the wise heal.Εἰσὶν οἳ λέγοντες τιτρώσκουσι, μάχαιραι· γλῶσσαι δὲ σοφῶν ἰῶνται.
19True lips establish testimony; but a hasty witness has an unjust tongue.Χείλη ἀληθινὰ κατορθοῖ μαρτυρίαν, μάρτυς δὲ ταχὺς γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἄδικον.
20There is deceit in the heart of him that imagines evil; but they that love peace shall rejoice.Δόλος ἐν καρδίᾳ τεκταινομένου κακὰ, οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι εἰρήνην εὐφρανθήσονται.
21No injustice will please a just man; but the ungodly will be filled with mischief.Οὐκ ἀρέσει τῷ δικαίῳ οὐδὲν ἄδικον, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς πλησθήσονται κακῶν.
22Lying lips are a abomination to the Lord; but he that deals faithfully is accepted with him.Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ χείλη ψευδῆ, ὁ δὲ ποιῶν πίστεις δεκτὸς παρʼ αὐτῷ.
23An understanding man is a throne of wisdom; but the heart of fools shall meet with curses.Ἀνὴρ συνετὸς θρόνος αἰσθήσεως, καρδία δὲ ἀφρόνων συναντήσεται ἀραῖς.
24The hand of chosen men shall easily obtain rule; but the deceitful shall be for a prey.Χεὶρ ἐκλεκτῶν κρατήσει εὐχερῶς, δόλιοι δὲ ἔσονται ἐν προνομῇ.
25A terrible word troubles the heart of a righteous man; but a good message rejoices him.Φοβερὸς λόγος καρδίαν ταράσσει ἀνδρὸς δικαίου, ἀγγελία δὲ ἀγαθὴ εὐφραίνει αὐτόν.
26A just arbitrator shall be his own friend; but mischief shall pursue sinners; and the way of ungodly men shall lead them astray.Ἐπιγνώμων δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ φίλος ἔσται, ἁμαρτάνοντας δὲ καταδιώξεται κακὰ, ἡ δὲ ὁδὸς τῶν ἀσεβῶν πλανήσει αὐτούς.
27A deceitful man shall catch no game; but a † blameless man is a precious possession.Οὐκ ἐπιτεύξεται δόλιος θήρας, κτῆμα δὲ τίμιον ἀνὴρ καθαρός.
28In the ways of righteousness is life; but the ways of those that remember injuries lead to death.Ἐν ὁδοῖς δικαιοσύνης ζωὴ, ὁδοὶ δὲ μνησικάκων εἰς θάνατον.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 2*Or. better is he, etc.
- v. 27†Gr. pure.