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The Counsel of Yahweh Will Stand

19 (A)Better is a poor man who (B)walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked in lips and is a fool.
Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries [a](C)his footsteps sins.
The (D)folly of man subverts his way,
But his heart (E)rages against Yahweh.
(F)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
A [b](G)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who (H)breathes out lies will not escape.
(I)Many will seek the favor of a noble man,
And everyone is a friend to a man who (J)gives gifts.
All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his (K)friends distance themselves from him!
He (L)pursues them with words, but they are no more.
He who acquires a heart of wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps discernment will (M)find good.
A [c](N)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is (O)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (P)slave to rule over princes.
11 A man’s (Q)insight makes him slow to anger,
And it is his honor (R)to overlook a transgression.
12 The (S)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (T)dew on the grass.
13 A (U)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (V)contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an (W)inheritance from fathers,
But a wife who has insight is from Yahweh.
15 (X)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And a slack-handed soul will suffer hunger.
16 He who (Y)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who despises his way will die.
17 He who (Z)is gracious to a poor man lends to Yahweh,
And He will repay him for his (AA)bountiful deed.
18 (AB)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not [d]direct your soul to put him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will bear the penalty,
For if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 (AC)Listen to counsel and receive discipline,
That you may be wise in [e]the end of your days.
21 Many [f](AD)thoughts are in a man’s heart,
But it is the (AE)counsel of Yahweh that will stand.
22 What is desirable in a man is his lovingkindness,
And better is a poor man than a man of falsehood.
23 The [g](AF)fear of Yahweh leads to life,
So that one may sleep (AG)satisfied, not (AH)visited by evil.
24 The (AI)sluggard buries his hand (AJ)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (AK)Strike a scoffer and the simple may become prudent,
But (AL)reprove one who has understanding and he will understand knowledge.
26 He (AM)who assaults his father and causes his mother to flee
Is a son who brings shame and humiliation.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A vile witness scoffs at justice,
And the mouth of the wicked (AN)swallows up iniquity.
29 [h]Judgments are established for (AO)scoffers,
And (AP)beatings for the back of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:2 Lit with his feet
  2. Proverbs 19:5 Lit witness of lies, cf. Ex 20:16
  3. Proverbs 19:9 Lit witness of lies, cf. Ex 20:16
  4. Proverbs 19:18 Lit lift up
  5. Proverbs 19:20 Lit your latter end
  6. Proverbs 19:21 Or plans
  7. Proverbs 19:23 Or reverence
  8. Proverbs 19:29 Gr Rods

19 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
    than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
Ignorant desire isn’t good;
    rushing feet make mistakes.
People’s own folly corrupts their way,
    but their hearts rage against the Lord.
Riches increase one’s friends,
    but the poor lose their friends.
A false witness won’t go unpunished,
    and a liar won’t escape.
Many seek favor from rulers;
    everyone befriends a gift giver.
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.
Those who acquire good sense love themselves;
    those who keep understanding find success.
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.