Proverbs 19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
19 Better a poor man who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.
3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.(D)
4 Wealth attracts many friends,(E)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;(J)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,(K)
but they are not there.[b]
8 The one who acquires good sense[c] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.(L)
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.(M)
14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(V)
but a sensible wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(W)
19 A person with great anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.(AC)
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.(AE)
22 What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;
better to be a poor man than a liar.(AF)
24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.(AH)
25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;(AI)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.(AJ)
26 The one who assaults 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.(AK)
29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(AL)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit who is hasty with feet
- Proverbs 19:7 Hb uncertain
- Proverbs 19:8 Lit acquires a heart
- Proverbs 19:16 Or despises, or treats lightly
- Proverbs 19:17 Lit to him
- Proverbs 19:18 Lit don’t lift up your soul to his death
- Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your end
- Proverbs 19:23 Lit will spend the night satisfied
Proverbs 19
International Standard Version
The Priorities of Life Contrasted
19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.
2 Furthermore, it isn’t good to be ignorant,[a]
and whoever rushes into things[b] misses the mark.
3 A man’s foolishness ruins his life,[c]
yet his heart rages against the Lord.
4 Wealth brings many friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 A witness to lies will not go unpunished;
the teller of falsehoods will not escape.
6 Many curry favor of an official;
everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
7 All the relatives of a poor person shun him—
how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he runs after them pleading,
they aren’t around.
8 Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself,
and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.
9 A witness to lies will not go unpunished;
the teller of falsehoods will perish.
10 It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;
neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.
11 A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.
12 The king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,
but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.
13 A father’s ruin is a foolish son,
and a wife’s quarreling is like[d] dripping water that never stops.
14 A house and self-sufficiency are a father’s inheritance,
but from the Lord comes an insightful wife.
15 Laziness puts one to sleep,
and an idle person will go hungry.
16 Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe,[e]
but someone who is contemptuous in conduct[f] will die.
17 Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord—
the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.
18 Discipline your son while there is still hope—
but don’t set your heart on his destruction.
19 The person who has great anger must pay the consequences,
because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and you’ll be wise for the rest of your life.[g]
21 Many plans occupy the mind[h] of a man,
but the Lord’s purposes will prevail.[i]
22 Human beings long for grace,
and it’s better to be poor than a man of deceit.
23 The fear of the Lord leads[j] to life;
whoever is satisfied with it will rest,
untouched by evil.
24 The lazy person buries his hand in his dish
and doesn’t bother to bring it back to his mouth.
25 If you scourge a scoffer,
the simple person may learn to be discreet;
rebuke a discerning man
and he will gain understanding.
26 Whoever mistreats his father
and alienates his mother
is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.
27 My son, if you stop listening to instruction,
you will stray from the principles of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness[k] mocks justice,
and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.
29 Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,
just as beatings are for the backs of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit. good for an ignorant soul
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit. whoever hurries with his feet
- Proverbs 19:3 Lit. way
- Proverbs 19:13 The Heb. lacks like
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit. keeps his soul
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit. in his way
- Proverbs 19:20 The Heb. lacks of your life
- Proverbs 19:21 Lit. heart
- Proverbs 19:21 Or will be established
- Proverbs 19:23 The Heb. lacks leads
- Proverbs 19:28 I.e. a worthless person
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