Proverbs 19
1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.
2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.
3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...
8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
10 Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.
16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.
19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.
22 The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.
24 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.
26 He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.
27 If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.
29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
