U-God

Library

📚Library🔍Search☀️Daily Verse📅Sacred Calendar⭐Bookmarks

Discover

🌍ExploreNew📊TopicsNew⚖️CompareNew📝BlogNew

More

💡About📜Terms
Start Reading for Free

© 2026 U-God Sacred Library

Christianity

Proverbs 12Truthful Lips

Summary

Proverbs 12 contrasts the person who loves discipline with the one who hates correction. It praises a virtuous wife as her husband's crown and notes that a righteous man cares for the life of his animal. Diligent work, steady farming and listening to counsel are commended, while the fool is right in his own eyes. Speech is central: rash words pierce like a sword, the tongue of the wise brings healing, lying lips are an abomination, and a good word lifts an anxious heart.

Key verse

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”

Proverbs 12:22

Themes

  • Truthfulness
  • Teachability
  • Kindness to Animals
  • Encouraging Words

Text

1

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

2

A good man obtaineth 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 not be moved.

4

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed 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 wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

9

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, 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 land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

12

The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

13

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

14

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

16

A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

17

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth 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 imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21

There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22

Lying lips are 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

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

26

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

27

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28

In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Christianity

    Ephesians 4: Speak Truth

    Ephesians 4:25 tells believers to put away lying and speak truth with their neighbor, and 4:29 asks that speech build others up, two concerns at the heart of Proverbs 12.

  • Buddhism

    Dhammapada 221 to 234: Anger and Speech

    This chapter teaches overcoming anger and urges speaking the truth and guarding speech from harshness. It shares Proverbs' view that words can wound or heal.

Questions about Proverbs 12

What does Proverbs say about animals?

Proverbs 12:10 says a righteous man regards the life of his beast, linking care for animals with righteousness. Jewish law developed a broad principle against causing animals needless suffering.

What does Proverbs 12:25 say about anxiety?

It says heaviness in the heart makes it stoop, but a good word makes it glad, pointing to the power of kind words to lift a worried person.