Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips—who [is] a fool.
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
3 The folly of man perverts his way, And his heart is angry against YHWH.
A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
4 Wealth adds many friends, And the poor is separated from his neighbor.
Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
6 Many beg the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
7 All the brothers of the poor have hated him, Surely his friends have also been far from him, He is pursuing words—they are not!
All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
8 Whoever is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoever breathes out lies perishes.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
11 The wisdom of a man has deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
12 The wrath of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, And his goodwill as dew on the herb.
A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son [is] a calamity to his father, And the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And an understanding wife [is] from YHWH.
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Sloth causes deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul hungers.
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
16 Whoever is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoever is despising His ways dies.
He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
17 Whoever is lending [to] YHWH is favoring the poor, And He repays his deed to him.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope, And do not lift up your soul to put him to death.
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For if you deliver, yet again you add.
A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that you are wise in your latter end.
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 The purposes in a man’s heart [are] many, And the counsel of YHWH—it stands.
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And the poor [is] better than a liar.
The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of YHWH [is] to life, And he remains satisfied—he is not charged with evil.
The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
24 The slothful has hidden his hand in a dish, Even to his mouth he does not bring it back.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a scorner, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understands knowledge.
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
26 Whoever is spoiling a father causes a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction—To err from sayings of knowledge.
If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness scorns judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
