Proverbs 19

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

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.