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19 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.
It is not good for a man to be without knowledge,
    and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way.
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
    his heart rages against the Lord.
Wealth brings many new friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who utters lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of a generous man,
    and every one is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
All a poor man’s brothers hate him;
    how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.[a]
He who gets wisdom loves himself;
    he who keeps understanding will prosper.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who utters lies will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 Good sense makes a man slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,
    but his favor is like dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
    and an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises the word[b] will die.
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will repay him for his deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope;
    do not set your heart on his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty;
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.[c]
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom for the future.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
22 What is desired in a man is loyalty,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    and he who has it rests satisfied;
    he will not be visited by harm.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
    reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction
    only to stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
    and flogging for the backs of fools.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 Heb uncertain
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Cn Compare 13.13: Heb his ways
  3. Proverbs 19:19 Heb obscure

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