Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips, who [is] a fool.
Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
3 The folly of man perverteth his way, And against Jehovah is his heart wroth.
People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
4 Wealth addeth many friends, And the poor from his neighbour is separated.
If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.
A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
6 Many entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
7 All the brethren of the poor have hated him, Surely also his friends have been far from him, He is pursuing words — they are not!
If a poor man's relatives can't stand him, how much more will his friends avoid him! He tries to talk with them but they don't listen.
8 Whoso is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
11 The wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
12 The wrath of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, And as dew on the herb his good-will.
When a king gets angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; but his kindness is as soft as dew on the grass.
13 A calamity to his father [is] a foolish son, And the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And from Jehovah [is] an understanding wife.
You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Sloth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.
Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
16 Whoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth.
Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
17 Whoso is lending [to] Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.
If you're kind to the poor, you're lending to the Lord, and he will repay you well for what you've done.
18 Chastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.
Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For, if thou dost deliver, yet again thou dost add.
People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.
Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
21 Many [are] the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.
Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And better [is] the poor than a liar.
The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of Jehovah [is] to life, And satisfied he remaineth — he is not charged with evil.
Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
24 The slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
25 A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.
If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
26 Whoso is spoiling a father causeth a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction — To err from sayings of knowledge.
My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
28 A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
