Proverbs 19

¹Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.

²Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.

³By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.

⁴Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.

⁶Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.

⁷All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...

⁸He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.

⁹A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.

¹⁰Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.

¹¹A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.

¹²The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.

¹⁴House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.

¹⁵Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.

¹⁶He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.

¹⁷He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.

¹⁸Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.

¹⁹A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.

²⁰Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.

²¹A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.

²²The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.

²³The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.

²⁴The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.

²⁵When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.

²⁶He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.

²⁷A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.

²⁹Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.

Proverbs 19

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

²It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁸Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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