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19 A poor man who walks with honor is better than a fool who is sinful in his speaking.

It is not good for a person to be without much learning, and he who hurries with his feet rushes into sin.

The foolish acts of man make his way bad, and his heart is angry toward the Lord.

Riches add many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.

A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will not get away.

Many will ask for the favor of a man who gives much, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him! He runs to them with words, but they are gone.

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

A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will be lost.

10 It is not right for a fool to live in great comfort, and for sure, for a servant to rule over rulers.

11 A man’s understanding makes him slow to anger. It is to his honor to forgive and forget a wrong done to him.

12 The king’s anger is like the noise of a lion, but his favor is like morning water upon the grass.

13 A foolish son destroys his father. The arguing of a wife is like water falling drop by drop all the time.

14 House and riches are handed down from fathers, but an understanding wife is from the Lord.

15 Being lazy makes one go into a deep sleep, and a lazy man will suffer from being hungry.

16 He who keeps God’s Word keeps his soul, but he who is not careful of his ways will die.

17 He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act.

18 Punish your son if he needs it while there is hope, and do not worry about his crying.

19 An angry man will suffer punishment. For if you save him from his trouble, you will only have to do it again.

20 Listen to words about what you should do, and take your punishment if you need it, so that you may be wise the rest of your days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s plan that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will sleep well, and will not be touched by sin.

24 The lazy man buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.

25 Hit a man who laughs at the truth, and the foolish may become wise. But speak strong words to one who has understanding, and he will get more learning.

26 He who hurts his father and puts his mother out of the house is a son who causes much shame.

27 My son, stop listening to teaching that will cause you to turn away from the words of much learning.

28 A man without worth who tells all he knows laughs at what is right and fair, and the mouth of the sinful spreads wrong-doing.

29 Ways of punishing are made ready for those who laugh at the truth, and beatings are for the back of fools.

19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!(B)

A person’s own folly(C) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.(D)

Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(E)

A false witness(F) will not go unpunished,(G)
    and whoever pours out lies will not go free.(H)

Many curry favor with a ruler,(I)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(J)

The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!(K)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.[a](L)

The one who gets wisdom loves life;
    the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.(M)

A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and whoever pours out lies will perish.(N)

10 It is not fitting for a fool(O) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(P)

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;(Q)
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,(R)
    but his favor is like dew(S) on the grass.(T)

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(U)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(V)

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,(W)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(X)

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
    and the shiftless go hungry.(Y)

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(Z)

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(AA)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(AB)

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(AC)

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(AD)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(AE)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.(AF)

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
    better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(AG)

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(AH)

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
    rebuke the discerning,(AI) and they will gain knowledge.(AJ)

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(AK)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(AL)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(AM)

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
  2. Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame