Proverbs 19
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.
If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone.
If a poor man's relatives can't stand him, how much more will his friends avoid him! He tries to talk with them but they don't listen.
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
When a king gets angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; but his kindness is as soft as dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die.
Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
If you're kind to the poor, you're lending to the Lord, and he will repay you well for what you've done.
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again.
People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.
If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge.
My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
