Proverbs 19
New King James Version
The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life
19 Better (A)is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.
3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.
4 (B)Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A (C)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.
6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
7 (D)All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go (E)far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they [a]abandon him.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less (G)for a servant to rule over princes.
11 (H)The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
(I)And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
13 (L)A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
(M)And the contentions of a wife are a continual [c]dripping.
17 (S)He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise (U)in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
(V)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is [f]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
23 (W)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
24 (X)A lazy man buries his hand in the [g]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple (Y)will become wary;
(Z)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is (AA)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
(AC)And beatings for the backs of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:7 Lit. are not
- Proverbs 19:8 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 19:13 Irritation
- Proverbs 19:16 Is reckless, lit. despises
- Proverbs 19:18 Lit. to put him to death; a Jewish tradition on his crying
- Proverbs 19:22 Lit. lovingkindness
- Proverbs 19:24 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
- Proverbs 19:28 Lit. witness of Belial, worthless witness
Proverbs 19
English Standard Version
19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
2 Desire[a] without knowledge is not good,
and whoever (C)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
3 When a man's folly (D)brings his way to ruin,
his heart (E)rages against the Lord.
4 (F)Wealth brings many new friends,
(G)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 (H)A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who (I)breathes out lies will not escape.
6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,[b]
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives (J)gifts.
7 (K)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
(L)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.[c]
8 (M)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will (N)discover good.
9 (O)A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who (P)breathes out lies will perish.
10 (Q)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for (R)a slave to rule over princes.
11 (S)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 A king's wrath is like (T)the growling of a lion,
but his (U)favor is like (V)dew on the grass.
13 (W)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and (X)a wife's quarreling is (Y)a continual dripping of rain.
14 (Z)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is (AA)from the Lord.
15 (AB)Slothfulness casts into (AC)a deep sleep,
and (AD)an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 Whoever (AE)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.
17 (AF)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he (AG)will repay him for his (AH)deed.
18 (AI)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on (AJ)putting him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in (AK)the future.
21 (AL)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but (AM)it is the purpose of the Lord (AN)that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord (AO)leads to life,
and whoever has it rests (AP)satisfied;
he will (AQ)not be visited by harm.
24 (AR)The sluggard buries his hand in (AS)the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (AT)Strike (AU)a scoffer, and the simple will (AV)learn prudence;
(AW)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is (AX)a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,
(AY)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked (AZ)devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for (BA)scoffers,
and (BB)beating for the backs of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 Or A soul
- Proverbs 19:6 Or of a noble
- Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
