Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.

8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

10 Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

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

19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

22 The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

24 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

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

28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

1 ¶ Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 ¶ Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.

3 ¶ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

4 ¶ Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

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

6 ¶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [to him].

8 ¶ He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

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

10 ¶ Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 ¶ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 ¶ The king's wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass.

13 ¶ A foolish son [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.

14 ¶ House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] 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 despiseth his ways shall die.

17 ¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

18 ¶ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

19 ¶ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.

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

21 ¶ [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

22 ¶ The desire of a man [is] his kindness: and a poor man [is] better than a liar.

23 ¶ The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

24 ¶ A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 ¶ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.

26 ¶ He that wasteth [his] father, [and] chaseth away [his] mother, [is] a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

27 ¶ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.

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

29 ¶ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

1 A poor man that walketh in his piety is better than a perverse man with his lips, who is yet a fool.

2 Where a man dealeth not wisely, it is not well: and he that is swift with his feet doeth hurt.

3 The folly of a man leadeth him astray, because his heart rageth against the LORD.

4 good makes many friends; but the poor man is forsaken by his friends.

5 A false witness shall not go unpunished; and he that speaketh lies boldly shall not escape.

6 many wait for the person of the prince, and are all friends of him that giveth gifts.

7 All his brethren hate the poor man, and his friends also are far from him: and he that trusteth in words shall not prosper,

8 He that is wise loveth his life: and he that hath understanding findeth good.

9 A false witness shall not go unpunished; and he that speaketh lies boldly shall perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to have good days, much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11 He that is patient is a wise man, and is honest to him, that he may overhear iniquity.

12 The king's displeasure is as the roaring of a young lion: but his mercy is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is his father's heartache, and a quarrelsome wife a continual torment.

14 Houses and goods are inherited of parents: but a wife of understanding cometh of the LORD.

15 laziness brings sleep, and a lax soul will suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his life: but he that despiseth his way shall die.

17 He that hath mercy on the poor lendeth unto the LORD, and he shall repay him with good.

18 Chasten thy son, because there is hope; but let not thy soul be moved to slay him.

19 For great wrath bringeth evil: therefore let him go, and thou mayest chasten him more.

20 Obey the counsel, and receive correction, that thou mayest be wise hereafter.

21 There are many counsels in a man's heart: but the counsel of the LORD standeth still.

22 A man lusteth by his goodness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD bringeth forth life, and shall be satisfied, that no evil shall afflict it.

24 The slothful man hideth his hand in the pot, and bringeth it not again to his mouth.

25 If a scoffer be beaten, the foolish man is made merry: if a man be punished, he is made wise.

26 He that putteth away his father, and chaseth his mother, is an unclean and accursed child.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the chastening that leadeth away from sound doctrine.

28 A loose witness mocketh the law, and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Punishments are prepared for the scoffers, and smitings for the backs of fools.