Proverbs 19-21

21st Century King James Version

19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

² Even as a soul without knowledge is not good, so he that maketh haste with his feet sinneth.

³ The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

⁴ Wealth maketh many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

⁵ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

⁶ Many will entreat the favor of the prince, and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

⁷ All the brethren of the poor hate him—how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, yet they are not forthcoming to him.

⁸ He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

⁹ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

¹⁰ Delight is not seemly for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹ The discretion of a man deferreth his 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 dripping.

¹⁴ House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul, but he that despiseth His ways shall die.

¹⁷ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, He will repay him again.

¹⁸ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare him for his crying.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou rescue him, yet thou must do it again.

²⁰ Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

²¹ There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

²² What is desired of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.

²³ The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

²⁴ A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove one that hath understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ He that afflicteth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth thee to err from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ An ungodly witness scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is enraging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

² The wrath of a king is as the roaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

³ It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling.

⁴ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing.

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man, who can find?

⁷ The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

⁸ A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹¹ Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right.

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

¹³ Love not sleep lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ “It is nought, it is worthless!” saith the buyer; but when he has gone his way, then he boasteth.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ The bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel, but only with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily in the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say thou not, “I will recompense evil”; but wait on the Lord, and He shall save thee.

²³ Differing weights are an abomination unto the Lord, and a false balance is not good.

²⁴ Man’s goings are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a snare for a man to devour that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

²⁶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and driveth the wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of his being.

²⁸ Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

³⁰ The bruising of a wound cleanseth away evil—so also do stripes the inward parts of the being.

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He will.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

³ To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ A haughty look and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, are sin.

⁵ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but of everyone that is hasty, only to want.

⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity which is tossed to and fro by them that seek death.

⁷ The robberies of the wicked shall destroy them, because they refuse to do judgment.

⁸ The way of man is froward and strange, but as for the pure, his work is right.

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a large house.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

¹² The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked, how God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

¹³ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall himself cry, but shall not be heard.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

¹⁵ It is a joy to the just to do judgment, but destruction shall come to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

¹⁷ He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.

²⁰ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up.

²¹ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness and honor.

²² A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of their confidence.

²³ Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

²⁴ Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

²⁵ The desire of the slothful killeth him, for his hands refuse to labor;

²⁶ he coveteth greedily all the day long, but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more so when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!

²⁸ A false witness shall perish, but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

²⁹ A wicked man hardeneth his face, but as for the upright, he considereth his ways.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the Lord.