Proverbs 19

19TH CHAPTER

¹Better to be a poor person who lives innocently 

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

²A person without knowledge is no good. 

A person in a hurry makes mistakes. 

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

and his heart rages against the Lord. 

⁴Wealth adds many friends, 

but a poor person is separated from his friend. 

⁵A lying witness will not go unpunished. 

One who tells lies will not escape. 

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

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

⁷The 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. 

⁸A person who gains sense loves himself. 

One who guards understanding finds something good. 

⁹A lying witness will not go unpunished. 

One who tells lies will die. 

¹⁰Luxury does not fit a fool, 

much less a slave ruling princes. 

¹¹A person with good sense is patient, 

and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense. 

¹²The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion, 

but his favor is like dew on the grass. 

A Foolish Son Brings Ruin to Others

¹³A foolish son ruins his father, 

and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water. 

¹⁴Home and wealth are inherited from fathers, 

but a sensible wife comes from the Lord. 

¹⁵Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, 

and an idle person will go hungry. 

¹⁶Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, 

⸤but⸥ whoever despises the Lord’s ways will be put to death. 

¹⁷Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, 

and he will repay him for his good deed. 

¹⁸Discipline your son while there is still hope. 

Do not be the one responsible for his death. 

¹⁹A person who has a hot temper will pay for it. 

If you rescue him, you will have to do it over and over. 

²⁰Listen to advice and accept discipline 

so that you may be wise the rest of your life. 

²¹Many plans are in the human heart, 

but the advice of the Lord will endure. 

²²Loyalty is desirable in a person, 

and it is better to be poor than a liar. 

²³The fear of the Lord leads to life, 

and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm. 

²⁴A lazy person puts his fork in his food. 

He doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth. 

²⁵Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson. 

Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge. 

Foolproof Instructions

²⁶A son who assaults his father ⸤and⸥ who drives away his mother 

brings shame and disgrace. 

²⁷If you stop listening to instruction, my son, 

you will stray from the words of knowledge. 

²⁸A worthless witness mocks justice, 

and the mouths of wicked people swallow up trouble. 

²⁹Punishments are set for mockers 

and beatings for the backs of fools.