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19 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.
It is not good for a man to be without knowledge,
    and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way.
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
    his heart rages against the Lord.
Wealth brings many new friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who utters lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of a generous man,
    and every one is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
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]
He who gets wisdom loves himself;
    he who keeps understanding will prosper.
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

  1. Proverbs 19:7 Heb uncertain
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Cn Compare 13.13: Heb his ways
  3. Proverbs 19:19 Heb obscure

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life

19 Better (A)is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

(B)Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

A (C)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
(D)All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go (E)far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they [a]abandon him.

He who gets [b]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding (F)will find good.

A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less (G)for a servant to rule over princes.

11 (H)The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
(I)And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12 (J)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is (K)like dew on the grass.

13 (L)A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
(M)And the contentions of a wife are a continual [c]dripping.

14 (N)Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But (O)a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 (P)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will (Q)suffer hunger.

16 (R)He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [d]is careless of his ways will die.

17 (S)He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.

18 (T)Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart [e]on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise (U)in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
(V)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is [f]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 (W)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

24 (X)A lazy man buries his hand in the [g]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple (Y)will become wary;
(Z)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is (AA)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A [h]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And (AB)the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
(AC)And beatings for the backs of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 Lit. are not
  2. Proverbs 19:8 Lit. heart
  3. Proverbs 19:13 Irritation
  4. Proverbs 19:16 Is reckless, lit. despises
  5. Proverbs 19:18 Lit. to put him to death; a Jewish tradition on his crying
  6. Proverbs 19:22 Lit. lovingkindness
  7. Proverbs 19:24 LXX, Syr. bosom; Tg., Vg. armpit
  8. Proverbs 19:28 Lit. witness of Belial, worthless witness