Proverbs 19
Common English Bible
19 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
2 Ignorant desire isn’t good;
rushing feet make mistakes.
3 People’s own folly corrupts their way,
but their hearts rage against the Lord.
4 Riches increase one’s friends,
but the poor lose their friends.
5 A false witness won’t go unpunished,
and a liar won’t escape.
6 Many seek favor from rulers;
everyone befriends a gift giver.
7 All the relatives of the poor hate them;
even more, their friends stay far from them.
When they pursue them with words, they aren’t there.
8 Those who acquire good sense love themselves;
those who keep understanding find success.
9 False witnesses won’t go unpunished,
and liars will perish.
10 Luxury isn’t fitting for a fool;
even less so for a servant to rule over princes.
11 Insightful people restrain their anger;
their glory is to ignore an offense.
12 A raging king roars like a lion;
his favor is like the dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is a disaster to his father;
a contentious wife is like constant dripping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from one’s ancestors,
but an insightful wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
a slacker goes hungry.
16 Those who keep the commandment preserve their lives;
those who disregard their ways will die.
17 Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord,
and the Lord will fully repay them.
18 Discipline your children while there is hope,
but don’t plan to kill them.
19 Angry people must pay the penalty;
if you rescue them, then you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
so you might grow wise in the future.
21 Many plans are in a person’s mind,
but the Lord’s purpose will succeed.
22 People long for trustworthiness;
it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by harm.
24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl;
they won’t even put it to their mouth.
25 Strike someone who scoffs, and a naive person will become clever;
correct someone with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.
26 Those who assault their father and drive out their mother
are disgraceful children, worthy of reproach.
27 If, my child, you stop listening to discipline,
you will wander away from words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks justice;
the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.
29 Punishments were made for mockers,
and blows for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 19
Easy-to-Read Version
19 It is better to be poor and honest than to be a liar and a fool.
2 Being excited about something is not enough. You must also know what you are doing. Don’t rush into something, or you might do it wrong.
3 People ruin their lives with the foolish things they do, and then they blame the Lord for it.
4 Wealth will bring you many friends, but become poor and your friends will leave you.
5 A witness who lies will be punished; that liar will not escape.
6 Many people are nice to a generous person. Everyone wants to be friends with someone who gives gifts.
7 If you are poor, your family will turn against you, and your friends will avoid you even more. You might beg them for help, but no one will come to help you.
8 Be a friend to yourself; do all you can to be wise. Try hard to understand, and you will be rewarded.
9 A witness who lies will be punished. That liar will be destroyed.
10 A fool should not be rich, and a slave should not rule over princes.
11 Experience makes you more patient, and you are most patient when you ignore insults.
12 The shouts of an angry king are like a roaring lion, but his kind words are like a gentle rain falling softly on the grass.
13 A foolish son brings a flood of troubles to his father, and a complaining wife is like the constant dripping of water.
14 People receive houses and money from their parents, but a good wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on sleep, and an appetite for rest brings on hunger.
16 Obey the law and live; ignore it and die.
17 Giving help to the poor is like loaning money to the Lord. He will pay you back for your kindness.
18 Discipline your children while there is still hope. Avoiding it can be deadly.
19 People who are quick to become angry must pay the price. Protect them from punishment, and they become worse.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline; then you, too, will become wise.
21 People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen.
22 People want a friend they can trust. It is better to be poor than to be a liar.
23 Respect the Lord and you will have a good life, one that is satisfying and free from trouble.
24 Some people are too lazy to take care of themselves. They will not even lift the food from their plate to their mouth.
25 Punish a rude, arrogant person, and even slow learners will become wiser. But just a little correction is enough to teach a person who has understanding.
26 Those who would steal from their father and chase away their mother are disgusting, shameful people.
27 My son, if you stop listening to instructions, you will keep making stupid mistakes.
28 Using a criminal as a witness makes a joke of justice. People like that only want to do wrong.
29 People who show no respect for anything must be brought to justice. You must punish such fools.
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
Living Bible
19 Better to be poor and honest than rich[a] and dishonest.
2 It is dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown.
3 A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness and then blame it on the Lord!
4 A wealthy man has many “friends”; the poor man has none left.
5 Punish false witnesses. Track down liars.
6 Many beg favors from a man who is generous; everyone is his friend!
7 A poor man’s own brothers turn away from him in embarrassment;[b] how much more his friends! He calls after them, but they are gone.
8 He who loves wisdom loves his own best interest and will be a success.
9 A false witness shall be punished, and a liar shall be caught.
10 It doesn’t seem right for a fool to succeed or for a slave to rule over princes!
11 A wise man restrains his anger and overlooks insults. This is to his credit.
12 The king’s anger is as dangerous as a lion’s. But his approval is as refreshing as the dew on grass.
13 A rebellious son is a calamity to his father, and a nagging wife annoys like constant dripping.
14 A father can give his sons homes and riches, but only the Lord can give them understanding wives.
15 A lazy man sleeps soundly—and he goes hungry!
16 Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them means death.
17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!
18 Discipline your son in his early years while there is hope. If you don’t, you will ruin his life.
19 A short-tempered man must bear his own penalty; you can’t do much to help him. If you try once, you must try a dozen times!
20 Get all the advice you can and be wise the rest of your life.
21 Man proposes, but God disposes.
22 Kindness makes a man attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.
23 Reverence for God gives life, happiness, and protection from harm.
24 Some men are so lazy they won’t even feed themselves!
25 Punish a mocker and others will learn from his example. Reprove a wise man, and he will be the wiser.
26 A son who mistreats his father or mother is a public disgrace.
27 Stop listening to teaching that contradicts what you know is right.
28 A worthless witness cares nothing for truth—he enjoys his sinning too much.
29 Mockers and rebels shall be severely punished.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:1 rich, literally, “a fool.”
- Proverbs 19:7 turn away from him in embarrassment, literally, “despise him.”
Proverbs 19
Lexham English Bible
19 Better a poor person walking in integrity
than one who is perverse in his speech[a] and is a fool.
2 Also, a life[b] without knowledge is not good,
and he who moves quickly with his feet misses the mark.[c]
3 As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin,
and against Yahweh his heart[d] will rage.
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but the poor will be left by his friends.
5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes lies will not escape.
6 Many will seek favor before the generous,
and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.[e]
7 All the brothers of the poor, if they hate him,
how much more will his friends keep away from him.
He pursues them with words, and they are gone.[f]
8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself;[g]
he who guards understanding loves to find good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes lies will perish.
10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting,
any more than it is for a slave to rule over princes.
11 The understanding of a person makes him slow to his anger,[h]
and his glory overlooks offense.
12 The rage of a king growls like a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish child is a ruin to his father,
and the quarreling of a woman[i] is a continuous dripping.
14 A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
but from Yahweh comes a woman[j] who is prudent.
15 Laziness will bring on a deep sleep,
and a person[k] of idleness will suffer hunger.
16 He who guards commandments guards his life;[l]
he who is careless of his ways will be killed.
17 He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor,
and his benefits he will repay to him.
18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,
but on his destruction do not set your desire.[m]
19 A hot-tempered person pays a penalty;
if you rescue him, you will do it yet again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction
so that you will gain wisdom for your future.[n]
21 Many plans are in the heart[o] of a man,
but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.
22 The craving of a man is his steadfast loyalty,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.[p]
23 Fear of Yahweh leads to life;
he who is filled with it will rest—he will not suffer harm.
24 A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
and even to his mouth he will not bring it back.
25 The scoffer you shall strike, and the simple, may they learn prudence,
and reprove the intelligent and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to a father, he who chases away a mother,
is a child who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease to listen to instruction, my child,
and you will stray[q] from sayings of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness will mock justice,
and the mouth of the wicked will devour iniquity.
29 Judgments[r] are prepared for the scoffers,
and flogging for the back of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:1 Literally “in his lips”
- Proverbs 19:2 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 19:2 Or “sins”
- Proverbs 19:3 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 19:6 Hebrew “gift”
- Proverbs 19:7 Or “when he pursues words and not them”
- Proverbs 19:8 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 19:11 Literally “nostril”
- Proverbs 19:13 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 19:14 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 19:15 Or “soul,” or “life”
- Proverbs 19:16 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 19:18 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 19:20 Literally “after things”
- Proverbs 19:21 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 19:22 Literally “man of lying”
- Proverbs 19:27 Literally “in order to stray”
- Proverbs 19:29 Or “Punishments,” or “Condemnations”
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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