Proverbs 19
1 Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2 Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.
Also, it is not good to have desire without knowledge and the one who runs too fast misses the path.
3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
A person's folly ruins his life and his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friends.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.
A false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts.
Many will ask for a favor from a generous person and everyone is a friend of the one who gives 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].
All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends who go far away from him! He calls out to them, but they are gone.
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
He who gets wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding will find what is good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.
A false witness will not go unpunished, but the one who breathes out lies will perish.
10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.
Discretion makes a person slow to anger and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king’s wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass.
The wrath of the king is like the roaring of a young lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
A foolish son is ruin to his father and a quarreling wife is a constant dripping of water.
14 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.
A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Laziness throws a person into a deep sleep, but the one not willing to work will go hungry.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die.
The one who obeys the command guards his life, but the person who does not think about his ways will die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to Yahweh and he will repay him for what he has done.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Discipline your son while there is hope and do not set your desire on putting him to death.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it a second time.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you may become wise by the end of your life.
21 [There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will stand.
22 The desire of a man [is] his kindness: and a poor man [is] better than a liar.
Loyalty is what a person desires and a poor person 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.
Honor for Yahweh leads people to life; anyone who has it will be satisfied and not afflicted by harm.
24 A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back up to his mouth.
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.
Strike a mocker, and the naive person will become prudent; discipline one who is discerning, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He that wasteth [his] father, [and] chaseth away [his] mother, [is] a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
The one who robs his father and chases his mother away is a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.
If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
A corrupt witness mocks justice and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Condemnation is ready for mockers and flogging for the backs of fools.
