Proverbs 19

¹ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

² It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty with one’s feet and miss the way.

³ The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the LORD.

⁴ Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

⁶ Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

⁷ All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.

⁹ A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

¹⁰ Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹ The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

¹² The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

¹⁴ House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

¹⁷ He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward him.

¹⁸ Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

¹⁹ A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.

²² That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

²⁸ A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

²⁹ Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

¹ BBetter is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.

² Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.

³ The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.

⁴ Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.

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

⁶ Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth gifts.

⁷ The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.

⁸ But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence, shall find good things.

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

¹⁰ Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹ The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs.

¹² As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.

¹⁴ House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly 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 neglecteth his own way, shall die.

¹⁷ He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.

¹⁸ Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.

¹⁹ He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away, he shall add another thing.

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

²¹ There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

²² A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.

²³ The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the fulness without being visited with evil.

²⁴ The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth.

²⁵ The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline.

²⁶ He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.

²⁷ Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.

²⁸ An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.