Proverbs 19
1 Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the LORD.
4 If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
Many will entreat the favour of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 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.
All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offence.
12 When a king gets angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; but his kindness is as soft as dew on the grass.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favour is like dew on the grass.
13 A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 If you're kind to the poor, you're lending to the Lord, and he will repay you well for what you've done.
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward him.
18 Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.
22 The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
The fear of the LORD leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
