Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips, who [is] a fool.
Conducting our lives as we should [even though] we are poor is better than being foolish and telling lies.
2 Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.
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].
3 The folly of man perverteth his way, And against Jehovah is his heart wroth.
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.
4 Wealth addeth many friends, And the poor from his neighbour is separated.
Those who are rich easily find people who want to be their friends, but when [people become] poor, their friends [often] desert them.
5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.
Those who tell lies in court will surely be punished [LIT]; they will not escape it.
6 Many entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
Many [people] try to persuade important people to do favors for them; everyone [wants to] be a friend of those who give gifts.
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!
[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].
8 Whoso is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.
Those who become wise [IDM] are doing a favor for themselves; those who get good sense will prosper.
9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.
Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.
10 Luxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.
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.
11 The wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory [is] to pass over transgression.
Those who have good sense do not quickly become angry; people respect those who ignore offensive [things that people say to them].
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 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].
13 A calamity to his father [is] a foolish son, And the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
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].
14 House and wealth [are] the inheritance of fathers, And from Jehovah [is] an understanding wife.
We [can] inherit a house or money from our parents [when they die], but only Yahweh [can] give someone a sensible wife.
15 Sloth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.
Those who are lazy sleep soundly, but if they are lazy, they will be hungry [because of not earning money to buy food].
16 Whoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth.
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].
17 Whoso is lending [to] Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.
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).
18 Chastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.
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].
19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For, if thou dost deliver, yet again thou dost add.
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.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.
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.
21 Many [are] the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.
People plan to do many [kinds of things], but what will happen is what Yahweh has decided will happen.
22 The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And better [is] the poor than a liar.
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].
23 The fear of Jehovah [is] to life, And satisfied he remaineth — he is not charged with evil.
[Those who have] an awesome respect for Yahweh will live [a long life]; they rest peacefully and are not harmed [during the night].
24 The slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.
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.
25 A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.
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.
26 Whoso is spoiling a father causeth a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.
Anyone who mistreats/abuses his father or forces his mother to leave the home is a child who is acting shamefully and disgracefully.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction — To err from sayings of knowledge.
My son, if you stop learning things, you will [soon] forget what [you already] know.
28 A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
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].
29 Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!
[God] is ready to punish those who make fun [of him/religion]; those who do foolish things deserve to be flogged/whipped.
