Proverbs 19
19
1 Better a poor person walking in integrity
than one who is perverse in his speech#Literally “in his lips” and is a fool.
2Also, a life#Or “soul,” or “inner self” without knowledge is not good,
and he who moves quickly with his feet misses the mark.#Or “sins”
3As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin,
and against Yahweh his heart#Or “mind” will rage.
4Wealth adds many friends,
but the poor will be left by his friends.
5A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes lies will not escape.
6Many will seek favor before the generous,
and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.#Hebrew “gift”
7All 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.#Or “when he pursues words and not them”
8He who acquires wisdom loves himself;#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
he who guards understanding loves to find good.
9A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes lies will perish.
10For a fool living in luxury is not fitting,
any more than it is for a slave to rule over princes.
11The understanding of a person makes him slow to his anger,#Literally “nostril”
and his glory overlooks offense.
12The rage of a king growls like a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish child is a ruin to his father,
and the quarreling of a woman#Or “wife” is a continuous dripping.
14A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
but from Yahweh comes a woman#Or “wife” who is prudent.
15Laziness will bring on a deep sleep,
and a person#Or “soul,” or “life” of idleness will suffer hunger.
16He who guards commandments guards his life;#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
he who is careless of his ways will be killed.
17He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor,
and his benefits he will repay to him.
18Discipline your child, for there is hope,
but on his destruction do not set your desire.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
19A hot-tempered person pays a penalty;
if you rescue him, you will do it yet again.
20Listen to advice and accept instruction
so that you will gain wisdom for your future.#Literally “after things”
21Many plans are in the heart#Or “mind” of a man,
but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.
22The craving of a man is his steadfast loyalty,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.#Literally “man of lying”
23Fear of Yahweh leads to life;
he who is filled with it will rest—he will not suffer harm.
24A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
and even to his mouth he will not bring it back.
25The scoffer you shall strike, and the simple, may they learn prudence,
and reprove the intelligent and he will gain knowledge.
26He who does violence to a father, he who chases away a mother,
is a child who causes shame and brings reproach.
27Cease to listen to instruction, my child,
and you will stray#Literally “in order to stray” from sayings of knowledge.
28A worthless witness will mock justice,
and the mouth of the wicked will devour iniquity.
29Judgments#Or “Punishments,” or “Condemnations” are prepared for the scoffers,
and flogging for the back of fools.
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