Proverbs 19:21–29

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love;

better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;

rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother

is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,

and beatings for the backs of fools.

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and reproach.

27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,

and beating for the backs of fools.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart;

Nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness:

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life:

And he that hath it shall abide satisfied;

He shall not be visited with evil.

24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,

And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware:

And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother,

Is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction

That causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment:

And the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners,

And stripes for the back of fools.

21 You can make many plans,

but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

22 Loyalty makes a person attractive.

It is better to be poor than dishonest.

23 Fear of the Lord leads to life,

bringing security and protection from harm.

24 Lazy people take food in their hand

but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;

if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother

are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,

you will turn your back on knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice;

the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Punishment is made for mockers,

and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

21 People can make all kinds of plans,

but only the Lord’s plan will happen.

22 People want others to be loyal,

so it is better to be poor than to be a liar.

23 Those who respect the Lord will live

and be satisfied, unbothered by trouble.

24 Though the lazy person puts his hand in the dish,

he won’t lift the food to his mouth.

25 Whip those who make fun of wisdom, and perhaps foolish people will gain some wisdom.

Correct those with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.

26 A child who robs his father and sends away his mother

brings shame and disgrace on himself.

27 Don’t stop listening to correction, my child,

or you will forget what you have already learned.

28 An evil witness makes fun of fairness,

and wicked people love what is evil.

29 People who make fun of wisdom will be punished,

and the backs of foolish people will be beaten.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart;

But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness;

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life;

And he that hath it shall abide satisfied;

He shall not be visited with evil.

24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish,

And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother,

Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction

Only to err from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice;

And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

And stripes for the back of fools.

21 Many are the thoughts in a man’s heart, but the counsel of Jehovah, that doth stand.

22 The charm of a man is his kindness; and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life, and he that hath it shall rest satisfied without being visited with evil.

24 A sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove the intelligent, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that ruineth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of the foolish.

21 Many plans are in the human heart, 

but the advice of the Lord will endure. 

22 Loyalty is desirable in a person, 

and it is better to be poor than a liar. 

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, 

and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm. 

24 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. 

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

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

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

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

brings shame and disgrace. 

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, 

you will stray from the words of knowledge. 

28 A worthless witness mocks justice, 

and the mouths of wicked people swallow up trouble. 

29 Punishments are set for mockers 

and beatings for the backs of fools. 

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,

but the Lord’s decree will prevail.

22 What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;

better to be a poor man than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

one will sleep at night without danger.

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

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

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

rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

26 The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother

is a disgraceful and shameful son.

27 If you stop listening to correction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice,

and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,

and beatings for the backs of fools.

21 The human mind may devise many plans,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

22 What is desirable in a person is loyalty,

and it is better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord is life indeed;

filled with it one rests secure

and suffers no harm.

24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to the mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother

are children who cause shame and bring reproach.

27 My child, stop ignoring instruction,

straying from words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Punishments are prepared for scoffers

and flogging for the backs of fools.

21 Many plans are in the heart of a man,

but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.

22 The craving of a man is his steadfast loyalty,

and it is better to be poor than a liar.

23 Fear of Yahweh leads to life;

he who is filled with it will rest—he will not suffer harm.

24 A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,

and even to his mouth he will not bring it back.

25 The scoffer you shall strike, and the simple, may they learn prudence,

and reprove the intelligent and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who does violence to a father, he who chases away a mother,

is a child who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease to listen to instruction, my child,

and you will stray from sayings of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness will mock justice,

and the mouth of the wicked will devour iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for the scoffers,

and flogging for the back of fools.

21 A man may have many plans in his heart.

But the Lord’s purpose wins out in the end.

22 Every man longs for love that never fails.

It is better to be poor than to be a liar.

23 Having respect for the Lord leads to life.

Then you will be content and free from trouble.

24 A person who doesn’t want to work leaves his hand in the dish.

He won’t even bring it back up to his mouth!

25 If you whip a person who makes fun of others,

childish people will learn to be wise.

If you warn someone who already understands what is right,

he will gain even more knowledge.

26 A child who robs his father and drives out his mother

brings shame and dishonor.

27 My son, if you stop listening to what I teach you,

you will wander away from the words of knowledge.

28 A dishonest witness makes fun of what is right.

The mouths of those who do wrong gulp down evil.

29 Those who make fun of others will be judged.

Foolish people will be punished.

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,

But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness,

And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,

But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,

But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away

Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,

And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

And blows for the back of fools.