Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips—who [is] a fool.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 The folly of man perverts his way, And his heart is angry against YHWH.
The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth adds many friends, And the poor is separated from his neighbor.
Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Many beg the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man 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 relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, 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 soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoever breathes out lies perishes.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The wisdom of a man has deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. 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 king’s wrath is like the roaring 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 the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And an understanding wife [is] from YHWH.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Sloth causes deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul hungers.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Whoever is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoever is despising His ways dies.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 Whoever is lending [to] YHWH is favoring the poor, And He repays his deed to him.
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope, And do not lift up your soul to put him to death.
Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For if you deliver, yet again you add.
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that you are wise in your latter end.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 The purposes in a man’s heart [are] many, And the counsel of YHWH—it stands.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And the poor [is] better than a liar.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of YHWH [is] to life, And he remains satisfied—he is not charged with evil.
The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
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 so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scorner, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understands knowledge.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, 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 robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction—To err from sayings of knowledge.
If you stop listening to 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 gulps down iniquity.
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
