Add parallel Print Page Options

15 Lazy people sleep soundly,
    but idleness leaves them hungry.

16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;
    despising them leads to death.

17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord
    and he will repay you!

18 Discipline your children while there is hope.
    Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

19 Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.
    If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
    so you will be wise the rest of your life.

21 You can make many plans,
    but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

22 Loyalty makes a person attractive.
    It is better to be poor than dishonest.

23 Fear of the Lord leads to life,
    bringing security and protection from harm.

24 Lazy people take food in their hand
    but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
    if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother
    are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
    you will turn your back on knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice;
    the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Punishment is made for mockers,
    and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

Read full chapter

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)

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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