Proverbs 19:1–7

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—

how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,

yet their heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,

but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,

and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—

how much more do their friends avoid them!

Though the poor pursue them with pleading,

they are nowhere to be found.

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.

1 Better to be poor and honest

than to be dishonest and a fool.

2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;

haste makes mistakes.

3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness

and then are angry at the Lord.

4 Wealth makes many “friends”;

poverty drives them all away.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

nor will a liar escape.

6 Many seek favors from a ruler;

Everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

7 The relatives of the poor despise them;

how much more will their friends avoid them!

Though the poor plead with them,

their friends are gone.

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,

And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,

And his heart frets against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes many friends,

But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,

And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;

How much more do his friends go far from him!

He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

1 It is better to be poor and honest

than to be foolish and tell lies.

2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good.

If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.

3 People’s own foolishness ruins their lives,

but in their minds they blame the Lord.

4 Wealthy people are always finding more friends,

but the poor lose all theirs.

5 A witness who lies will not go free;

liars will never escape.

6 Many people want to please a leader,

and everyone is friends with those who give gifts.

7 Poor people’s relatives avoid them;

even their friends stay far away.

They run after them, begging,

but they are gone.

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 is not good;

And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way;

And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

4 Wealth addeth many friends;

But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished;

And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man;

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, but they are gone.

1 Better is a poor man that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also that a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.

3 The folly of man distorteth his way, and his heart is irritated against Jehovah.

4 Wealth addeth many friends; but the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

6 Many court the favour of a noble; and every one is friend to a man that giveth. 7 All the brethren of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him: he pursueth them with words, —they are not to be found.

1 Better to be a poor person who lives innocently 

than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool. 

2 A person without knowledge is no good. 

A person in a hurry makes mistakes. 

3 The stupidity of a person turns his life upside down, 

and his heart rages against the Lord. 

4 Wealth adds many friends, 

but a poor person is separated from his friend. 

5 A lying witness will not go unpunished. 

One who tells lies will not escape. 

6 Many try to win the kindness of a generous person, 

and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts. 

7 The entire family of a poor person hates him. 

How much more do his friends keep their distance from him! 

When he chases them with words, they are gone. 

1 Better a poor man who lives with integrity

than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge,

and the one who acts hastily sins.

3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,

yet his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,

but a poor man is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and one who utters lies will not escape.

6 Many seek a ruler’s favor,

and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;

how much more do his friends

keep their distance from him!

He may pursue them with words,

but they are not there.

1 Better the poor walking in integrity

than one perverse of speech who is a fool.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good,

and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.

3 One’s own folly leads to ruin,

yet the heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many friends,

but the poor are left friendless.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and a liar will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of the generous,

and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.

7 If the poor are hated even by their kin,

how much more are they shunned by their friends!

When they call after them, they are not there.

1 Better a poor person walking in integrity

than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

2 Also, a life without knowledge is not good,

and he who moves quickly with his feet misses the mark.

3 As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin,

and against Yahweh his heart will rage.

4 Wealth adds many friends,

but the poor will be left by his friends.

5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes lies will not escape.

6 Many will seek favor before the generous,

and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor, if they hate him,

how much more will his friends keep away from him.

He pursues them with words, and they are gone.

1 It is better to be poor and to live without blame

than to be foolish and to twist words around.

2 It isn’t good to get all stirred up without knowledge.

And it isn’t good to be in a hurry and miss the way.

3 A man’s own foolish acts destroy his life.

But his heart is angry with the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many friends.

But the friends of poor people leave them alone.

5 A dishonest witness will be punished.

And those who pour out lies will not go free.

6 Many try to win the favor of rulers.

And everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

7 A poor person is avoided by his whole family.

His friends avoid him even more.

The poor person runs after them to beg.

But he can’t find them.

1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,

And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

3 The foolishness of man ruins his way,

And his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth adds many friends,

But a poor man is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who tells lies will not escape.

6 Many will seek the favor of a generous man,

And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;

How much more do his friends abandon him!

He pursues them with words, but they are gone.