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19 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
    than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge,
    nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
The foolishness of man subverts his way;
    his heart rages against Yahweh.
Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor is separated from his friend.
A false witness shall not be unpunished.
    He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Many will entreat the favor of a ruler,
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
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.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.
    He who keeps understanding shall find good.
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 Yahweh.
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 Yahweh;
    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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh 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.

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