Proverbs 19:1-11
Proverbs 19:1-11 The Message (MSG)
Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust. Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste. People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does GOD always get blamed? Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague. Perjury won’t go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free? Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist. When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you— yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way— out of sight, out of mind. Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life. The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined. Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss. Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
Proverbs 19:1-11 King James Version (KJV)
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the LORD. Wealth maketh many friends; But the poor is separated from his neighbour. A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall perish. Delight is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Proverbs 19:1-11 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs. The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD. Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape. Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish. Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes. A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
Proverbs 19:1-11 New Century Version (NCV)
It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies. Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good. If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake. People’s own foolishness ruins their lives, but in their minds they blame the LORD. Wealthy people are always finding more friends, but the poor lose all theirs. A witness who lies will not go free; liars will never escape. Many people want to please a leader, and everyone is friends with those who give gifts. Poor people’s relatives avoid them; even their friends stay far away. They run after them, begging, but they are gone. Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed. A witness who lies will not go free, liars will die. A fool should not live in luxury. A slave should not rule over princes. The wise are patient; they will be honored if they ignore insults.
Proverbs 19:1-11 American Standard Version (ASV)
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah. Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend. A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape. Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish. Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Proverbs 19:1-11 New International Version (NIV)
Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way! A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:1-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Proverbs 19:1-11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark). The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; Then his heart is resentful and rages against the LORD [for, being a fool, he blames the LORD instead of himself]. Wealth makes many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. [Prov 14:20] A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape. [Ex 23:1; Deut 19:16-19; Prov 6:19; 21:28] Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man, And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts. All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone. He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes lies will perish. Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes. Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].
Proverbs 19:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD. Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone. To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed. It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes! Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
Proverbs 19:1-11 The Passion Translation (TPT)
It’s better to be honest, even if it leads to poverty, than to live as a dishonest fool. The best way to live is with revelation-knowledge, for without it, you’ll grow impatient and run right into error. There are some people who ruin their own lives and then blame it all on God. Being wealthy means having lots of “friends,” but the poor can’t keep the ones they have. Perjury won’t go unpunished, and liars will get all that they deserve. Everyone wants to be close to the rich and famous, but a generous person has all the friends he wants! When a man is poor, even his family has no use for him. How much more will his “friends” avoid him— for though he begs for help, they won’t respond. Do yourself a favor and love wisdom. Learn all you can, then watch your life flourish and prosper! Tell lies and you’re going to get caught, and the habitual liar is doomed. It doesn’t seem right when you see a fool living in the lap of luxury or a prideful servant ruling over princes. An understanding person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue. When you are insulted, be quick to forgive and forget it, for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:1-11 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.