Proverbs 12:20

Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, ¹  but those who promote peace ²  have joy.

Pr 12:12; Pr 26:24-26; Isa 9:6,7; Jer 17:16; Zec 6:13; Mt 5:9; Mr 7:21,22; Mr 12:14-17; Ro 1:29; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:8-13

¹ sn The contrast here is between “evil” (= pain and calamity) and “peace” (= social wholeness and well-being); see, e.g., Pss 34:14 and 37:37.

² tn Heb “those who are counselors of peace.” The term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is an objective genitive, so the genitive-construct “counselors of peace” means those who advise, advocate or promote peace (cf. NAB, NIV).