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 who walks in his integrity than he who 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].
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
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 subverts his way; his heart rages 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 adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
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 entreat the favour of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives 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 relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 Those who become wise [IDM] are doing a favor for themselves; those who get good sense will prosper.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps 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. He who utters 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.
Delicate living is not appropriate 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 makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offence.
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 like the roaring of a lion, but his favour is like dew on 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. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
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 an inheritance from fathers, but 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 casts into a deep sleep. The 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 who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in 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 who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward him.
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].
Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
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 hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you 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.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your 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 plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.
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].
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. 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 leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
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.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he 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.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain 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 who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray 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].
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 [God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
