Proverbs 19:1–12

Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than a fool whose lips are perverse.w

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—

how much more will hasty feet miss the way!x

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

yet their heart rages against the Lord.z

4 Wealth attracts many friends,

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

5 A false witnessb will not go unpunished,c

and whoever pours out lies will not go free.d

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,e

and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.f

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—

how much more do their friends avoid them!g

Though the poor pursue them with pleading,

they are nowhere to be found.a h

8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;

the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.i

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and whoever pours out lies will perish.j

10 It is not fitting for a foolk to live in luxury—

how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!l

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;m

it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,n

but his favor is like dewo on the grass.p