Proverbs 19
1 Conducting our lives as we should [even though] we are poor is better than being foolish and telling lies.
BETTER is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 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].
Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3 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.
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4 Those who are rich easily find people who want to be their friends, but when [people become] poor, their friends [often] desert them.
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5 Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Many [people] try to persuade important people to do favors for them; everyone [wants to] be a friend of those who give gifts.
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 [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].
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.
8 Those who become wise [IDM] are doing a favor for themselves; those who get good sense will prosper.
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10 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.
Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 Those who have good sense do not quickly become angry; people respect those who ignore offensive [things that people say to them].
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 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].
The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13 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].
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 We [can] inherit a house or money from our parents [when they die], but only Yahweh [can] give someone a sensible wife.
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Those who are lazy sleep soundly, but if they are lazy, they will be hungry [because of not earning money to buy food].
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 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].
He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17 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).
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18 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].
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19 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.
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20 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.
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 People plan to do many [kinds of things], but what will happen is what Yahweh has decided will happen.
There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
22 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].
The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 [Those who have] an awesome respect for Yahweh will live [a long life]; they rest peacefully and are not harmed [during the night].
The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24 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.
A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 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.
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 Anyone who mistreats/abuses his father or forces his mother to leave the home is a child who is acting shamefully and disgracefully.
He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27 My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28 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].
An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 [God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
