Proverbs 19
1 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.
Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
2 Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.
It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
3 By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.
People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
4 Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted 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 will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
6 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.
Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
7 All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...
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 who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.
If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
9 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
10 Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
11 A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
12 The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on 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 destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.
A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
14 House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.
Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
16 He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
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 Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.
Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
19 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.
People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
20 Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.
Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
21 A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.
Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
22 The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.
The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.
Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
24 The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
25 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.
If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
26 He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.
A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
27 A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
28 A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.
A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
29 Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
