Proverbs 19

1 Better [is] the poor 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] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.

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 perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth 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 maketh 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] speaketh lies shall not escape.

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

6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth 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 pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [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 getteth wisdom 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 unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.

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

10 Delight is not seemly 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 deferreth 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 casteth 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 keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth 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 hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath 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 thy son while there is hope, and let not thy 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 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 [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 [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath 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] hideth 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 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath 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 wasteth [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 [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.

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

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth 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.