15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(A)

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself;(B)
one who disregards[a] his ways will die.(C)

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(D)
and he will give a reward to the lender.[b](E)

18 Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.[c](F)

19 A person with intense anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.(G)

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.[d](H)

21 Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.(I)

22 What is desirable in a person is his fidelity;
better to be a poor person than a liar.(J)

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night[e] without danger.(K)

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!(L)

25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;(M)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.(N)

26 The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

27 If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:16 Or despises, or treats lightly
  2. 19:17 Lit to him
  3. 19:18 Lit don’t lift up your soul to his death
  4. 19:20 Lit in your end
  5. 19:23 Lit will spend the night satisfied

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
    and the shiftless go hungry.(A)

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(B)

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(C)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(D)

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(E)

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(F)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(G)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.(H)

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[a];
    better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(I)

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(J)

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
    rebuke the discerning,(K) and they will gain knowledge.(L)

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(M)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(N)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame