Proverbs 12:8-12

Honor and shame.
v.8 Appreciation of wisdom. A man with good sense (capacity to think straight) is commended (by the community); while a man with a twisted mind is despised. Praise for a person is in proportion to the wisdom he displays. Note that honor and shame are great motivators.
v.9 Humility. It is better to live modestly and have some of the conveniences of life then to live outside your means for show and thereby lack the essentials.
v.10 Compassion for animals. Your character is indicated by how much compassion you have for your animals. The righteous cares for the needs of his animals while the wicked is cruel. It is better to be the righteous person's cat than the wicked person's neighbor. If a person is kind to his animals, how much more so to fellow human beings. Even the compassion of the wicked is done cruelly.
v.11 Diligence. You ensure that you will have income (and food to eat) through diligent work, not by following worthless pursuits. See also 28:19.
v.12 Fruit. There are rewards for the righteous (root) who bear fruit, but the wicked covets the spoil of evil doers. The righteous work for what they own, but the wicked want what belongs to others.

This section comments on character and how communities assign praise or blame. The wise person wins honor while the wicked earns shame.

Read Proverbs 12:8-12