Proverbs 19
1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.
2 Also, it is not good to have desire without knowledge and the one who runs too fast misses the path.
Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.
3 A person's folly ruins his life and his heart rages against Yahweh.
By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.
4 Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friends.
Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
6 Many will ask for a favor from a generous person and everyone is a friend of the one who gives gifts.
Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.
7 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.
All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding will find what is good.
He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, but the one who breathes out lies will perish.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
11 Discretion makes a person slow to anger and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
12 The wrath of the king is like the roaring of a young lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is ruin to his father and a quarreling wife is a constant dripping of water.
A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.
14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
15 Laziness throws a person into a deep sleep, but the one not willing to work will go hungry.
Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.
16 The one who obeys the command guards his life, but the person who does not think about his ways will die.
He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to Yahweh and he will repay him for what he has done.
He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope and do not set your desire on putting him to death.
Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it a second time.
A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you may become wise by the end of your life.
Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.
21 Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will stand.
A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.
22 Loyalty is what a person desires and a poor person is better than a liar.
The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.
23 Honor for Yahweh leads people to life; anyone who has it will be satisfied and not afflicted by harm.
The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back up to his mouth.
The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a mocker, and the naive person will become prudent; discipline one who is discerning, and he will gain knowledge.
When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.
26 The one who robs his father and chases his mother away is a son who brings shame and reproach.
He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.
27 If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.
29 Condemnation is ready for mockers and flogging for the backs of fools.
Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
