Proverbs 19

19Better a poor man who lives with integrity ^g

than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

²Even zeal is not good without knowledge, ^h

and the one who acts hastily ⁱsins. ^j

³A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,

yet his heart rages against the Lord. ^k

⁴Wealth attracts many friends, ^l

but a poor man is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go unpunished, ^m

and one who utters lies will not escape. ⁿ

⁶Many seek a ruler’s favor, ^o

and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. ^p

⁷All the brothers of a poor man hate him; ^q

how much more do his friends

keep their distance from him!

He may pursue them with words, ^r

but they are not there. ^s

⁸The one who acquires good sense ^tloves himself;

one who safeguards understanding finds success. ^u

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished,

and one who utters lies perishes. ^v

¹⁰Luxury is not appropriate for a fool ^w—

how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ^x

¹¹A person’s insight gives him patience, ^y

and his virtue is to overlook an offense. ^z

¹²A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion, ^a

but his favor is like dew on the grass. ^b

¹³A foolish son is his father’s ruin, ^c

and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping. ^d

¹⁴A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, ^e

but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵Laziness induces deep sleep,

and a lazy person will go hungry. ^f

¹⁶The one who keeps commands preserves himself; ^g

one who disregards ^hhis ways will die. ⁱ

¹⁷Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, ^j

and He will give a reward to the lender. ^kl

¹⁸Discipline your son while there is hope;

don’t be intent on killing him. ^mn

¹⁹A person with great anger bears the penalty;

if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again. ^o

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction

so that you may be wise later in life. ^pq

²¹Many plans are in a man’s heart,

but the Lord’s decree will prevail. ^r

²²What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;

better to be a poor man than a liar. ^s

²³The fear of the Lord leads to life;

one will sleep at night ^twithout danger. ^u

²⁴The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth. ^v

²⁵Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; ^w

rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge. ^x

²⁶The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother

is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷If you stop listening to correction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A worthless witness mocks justice,

and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. ^y

²⁹Judgments are prepared for mockers,

and beatings for the backs of fools. ^z