Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips—who [is] a fool.
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
Also, it is not good to have desire without knowledge and the one who runs too fast misses the path.
3 The folly of man perverts his way, And his heart is angry against YHWH.
A person's folly ruins his life and his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth adds many friends, And the poor is separated from his neighbor.
Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friends.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.
A false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
6 Many beg the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Many will ask for a favor from a generous person and everyone is a friend of the one who gives gifts.
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 who go far away from him! He calls out to them, but they are gone.
8 Whoever is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
He who gets wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding will find what is good.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoever breathes out lies perishes.
A false witness will not go unpunished, but the one who breathes out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— much less 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.
Discretion makes a person slow to anger and it is his glory 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.
The wrath of the king is like the roaring of a young 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 ruin to his father and a quarreling wife is a constant dripping of water.
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And an understanding wife [is] from YHWH.
A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Sloth causes deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul hungers.
Laziness throws a person into a deep sleep, but the one not willing to work will go hungry.
16 Whoever is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoever is despising His ways dies.
The one who obeys the command guards his life, but the person who does not think about his ways will die.
17 Whoever is lending [to] YHWH is favoring the poor, And He repays his deed to him.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to Yahweh and he will repay him for what he has done.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope, And do not lift up your soul to put him to death.
Discipline your son while there is hope and do not set your desire on putting him to death.
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For if you deliver, yet again you add.
A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it a second time.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that you are wise in your latter end.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you may become wise by the end of your life.
21 The purposes in a man’s heart [are] many, And the counsel of YHWH—it stands.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will stand.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And the poor [is] better than a liar.
Loyalty is what a person desires and a poor person is better than a liar.
23 The fear of YHWH [is] to life, And he remains satisfied—he is not charged with evil.
Honor for Yahweh leads people to life; anyone who has it will be satisfied and not afflicted by harm.
24 The slothful has hidden his hand in a dish, Even to his mouth he does not bring it back.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back up 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 naive person will become prudent; discipline one who is discerning, and he will gain knowledge.
26 Whoever is spoiling a father causes a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
The one who robs his father and chases his mother away is a son who brings shame and reproach.
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 the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
Condemnation is ready for mockers and flogging for the backs of fools.
