Proverbs 19
Revised Standard Version
19 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.
2 It is not good for a man to be without knowledge,
and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way.
3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.
4 Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who utters lies will not escape.
6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,
and every one is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 All a poor man’s brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.[a]
8 He who gets wisdom loves himself;
he who keeps understanding will prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who utters lies will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 Good sense makes a man slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises the word[b] will die.
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope;
do not set your heart on his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty;
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.[c]
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom for the future.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
22 What is desired in a man is loyalty,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
and he who has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction
only to stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and flogging for the backs of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:7 Heb uncertain
- Proverbs 19:16 Cn Compare 13.13: Heb his ways
- Proverbs 19:19 Heb obscure
Proverbs 19
American Standard Version
19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity
Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, [a]that the soul be without knowledge is not good;
And he that hasteth with his feet [b]sinneth.
3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way;
And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
4 Wealth addeth many friends;
But [c]the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished;
And he that [d]uttereth lies shall not escape.
6 Many will entreat the favor of [e]the liberal man;
And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him:
How much more do his friends go far from him!
[f]He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.
8 He that getteth [g]wisdom loveth his own soul:
He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished;
And he that [h]uttereth lies shall perish.
10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool;
Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger;
And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion;
But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father;
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers;
But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;
And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul;
But he that [i]is careless of his ways shall die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah,
And his good deed will he pay him again.
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope;
And set not thy heart on [j]his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty;
For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive [k]instruction,
That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man’s heart;
But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness;
And a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life;
And he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
He shall not be visited with evil.
24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother,
Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction
Only to err from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice;
And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And stripes for the back of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 Or, desire without knowledge is not good
- Proverbs 19:2 Or, misseth his way
- Proverbs 19:4 Or, the friend of the poor separateth himself from him
- Proverbs 19:5 Hebrew breatheth out.
- Proverbs 19:6 Or, a prince
- Proverbs 19:7 Or, He pursueth after words, which are nought
- Proverbs 19:8 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 19:9 Hebrew breatheth out.
- Proverbs 19:16 Hebrew despiseth.
- Proverbs 19:18 Hebrew causing him to die.
- Proverbs 19:20 Or, correction
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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