Proverbs 19
GOD’S WORD Translation
19 Better to be a poor person who lives innocently
than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool.
2 A person without knowledge is no good.
A person in a hurry makes mistakes.
3 The stupidity of a person turns his life upside down,
and his heart rages against the Lord.
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is separated from his friend.
5 A lying witness will not go unpunished.
One who tells lies will not escape.
6 Many try to win the kindness of a generous person,
and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.
7 The entire family of a poor person hates him.
How much more do his friends keep their distance from him!
When he chases them with words, they are gone.
8 A person who gains sense loves himself.
One who guards understanding finds something good.
9 A lying witness will not go unpunished.
One who tells lies will die.
10 Luxury does not fit a fool,
much less a slave ruling princes.
11 A person with good sense is patient,
and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.
12 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A Foolish Son Brings Ruin to Others
13 A foolish son ruins his father,
and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.
14 Home and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a sensible wife comes from the Lord.
15 Laziness throws one into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will go hungry.
16 Whoever obeys the law preserves his life,
⌞but⌟ whoever despises the Lord’s ways will be put to death.
17 Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his good deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is still hope.
Do not be the one responsible for his death.
19 A person who has a hot temper will pay for it.
If you rescue him, you will have to do it over and over.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline
so that you may be wise the rest of your life.
21 Many plans are in the human heart,
but the advice of the Lord will endure.
22 Loyalty is desirable in a person,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm.
24 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
He doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson.
Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge.
Foolproof Instructions
26 A son who assaults his father ⌞and⌟ who drives away his mother
brings shame and disgrace.
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks justice,
and the mouths of wicked people swallow up trouble.
29 Punishments are set for mockers
and beatings for the backs of fools.
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
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
