Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor that walks 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 the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hastes with his feet sins.

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 foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets 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 makes many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

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 unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape.

Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.

6 Many will implore the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts.

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 the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursues them with words, yet they are lacking to him.

[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 gets wisdom loves his own soul: he that keeps 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 unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall perish.

Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.

10 Delight is not suitable for a fool; 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 defers his 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 wrath 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 riches are the inheritance of fathers: and 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 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep; and an 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 keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises 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 has pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD; and that which he has given will he pay him again.

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 your son while there is hope, and let not your soul spare for his crying.

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 you deliver him, yet you 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 you may be wise in your 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 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

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 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 the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be 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 slothful man hides his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as 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 Strike a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that has understanding, 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 wastes his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings 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 that causes to go astray from the words of knowledge.

My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.

28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devours 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 fools.

[God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.