Proverbs 19
1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Conducting our lives as we should [even though] we are poor is better than being foolish and telling lies.
2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Being enthusiastic but not thinking carefully [about what we are about to do] is not good; doing things hastily can cause us a lot of trouble [IDM].
3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
Some people are ruined as a result of their [own] foolish actions, and when that happens, they [SYN] angrily say that it is Yahweh’s fault.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Those who are rich easily find people who want to be their friends, but when [people become] poor, their friends [often] desert them.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.
6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
Many [people] try to persuade important people to do favors for them; everyone [wants to] be a friend of those who give gifts.
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.
[Even] the relatives of someone who becomes poor hate him, and his friends certainly stay away from him, too; [even] if he tries to talk with them, they will not be his friends [again].
8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
Those who become wise [IDM] are doing a favor for themselves; those who get good sense will prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.
10 Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
It is not appropriate for foolish people to live (luxuriously/like rich people), and it is even less appropriate for slaves to rule important officials.
11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Those who have good sense do not quickly become angry; people respect those who ignore offensive [things that people say to them].
12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
When a king is angry, [that causes people to be afraid of him], like the roar of a lion [causes people to be afraid] [SIM], but if he acts kindly toward people, [they like it just] like [they like] dew on the grass [in the morning].
13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Foolish children [can] cause disasters to happen to their parents. A wife who constantly (nags/quarrels with) [her husband is as annoying as] water that continually drips [MET].
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
We [can] inherit a house or money from our parents [when they die], but only Yahweh [can] give someone a sensible wife.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
Those who are lazy sleep soundly, but if they are lazy, they will be hungry [because of not earning money to buy food].
16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
Those who obey [God’s] commandments will remain alive [for a long time]; those who despise/disobey them (OR, those who do not control their own conduct) will die [while they are still young].
17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
When we give things to poor [people], [it is as though] we are lending to Yahweh, and he will (pay us back/reward us for what we did).
18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
Discipline your children while [they are young], while you still hope that [they will learn to behave as they should]; [if you do not discipline them], you are helping them to destroy [themselves].
19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
Those who (do not control their temper/quickly become very angry) will have to endure what happens as a result; [but] if we rescue them [from those troubles once], we will have to continue rescuing them.
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Pay attention when [people give you good] advice and learn from them, in order that you will become wise for the rest of your life.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
People plan to do many [kinds of things], but what will happen is what Yahweh has decided will happen.
22 The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
People want others to be loyal to them; it is better to be poor than to tell a lie [to a judge in court in order to get money].
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
[Those who have] an awesome respect for Yahweh will live [a long life]; they rest peacefully and are not harmed [during the night].
24 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Some people are extremely lazy; they put their hand in a dish [to take some food] but do not even lift the food up to their mouths.
25 Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
If you punish someone who makes fun of those who are wise, those who (are naive/need to be instructed) will learn to do what is smart; if you rebuke those who are wise, they will [listen to what you say and] become wiser.
26 He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
Anyone who mistreats/abuses his father or forces his mother to leave the home is a child who is acting shamefully and disgracefully.
27 If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
Worthless witnesses [in court] make fun of [judges who try to] make fair decisions, and wicked people [enjoy] doing evil [like] they enjoy eating [good food] [MET].
29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
[God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.
