Proverbs 19
1 Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Conducting our lives as we should [even though] we are poor is better than being foolish and telling lies.
2 Also that a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.
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 The folly of man distorteth his way, and his heart is irritated against Jehovah.
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 addeth many friends; but the poor is separated from 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 shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.
6 Many court the favour of a noble; and every one is friend to a man that giveth.
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 brethren of a poor [man] hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him: he pursueth [them] with words, — they are not [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 that getteth sense loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Those who become wise [IDM] are doing a favor for themselves; those who get good sense will prosper.
9 A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.
10 Good living beseemeth not a fool; how much less for a servant to have 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 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Those who have good sense do not quickly become angry; people respect those who ignore offensive [things that people say to them].
12 The king's displeasure is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon 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 the calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
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 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers; but a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
We [can] inherit a house or money from our parents [when they die], but only Yahweh [can] give someone a sensible wife.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and the idle soul shall 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 that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; he that is careless of his ways shall 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 He that is gracious to the poor lendeth unto Jehovah; and what he hath bestowed will he repay unto him.
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 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; but set not thy soul upon killing him.
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 wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it 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 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
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 are the thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that doth stand.
People plan to do many [kinds of things], but what will happen is what Yahweh has decided will happen.
22 The charm of a man is his kindness; and a poor [man] is better 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 Jehovah [tendeth] to life, and he [that hath it] shall rest satisfied without being visited with evil.
[Those who have] an awesome respect for Yahweh will live [a long life]; they rest peacefully and are not harmed [during the night].
24 A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.
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 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand 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 that ruineth [his] father and chaseth away [his] mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
Anyone who mistreats/abuses his father or forces his mother to leave the home is a child who is acting shamefully and disgracefully.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.
My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.
28 A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down 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 scorners, and stripes for the back of the foolish.
[God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.
