Proverbs 19

On Life and Conduct

11Better is a poor person who 2walks in his integrity Than a person who is perverse in 3speech and is a fool.2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And one who hurries 45his footsteps 6errs.3The 7foolishness of a person ruins his way, And his heart 8rages against the Lord.49Wealth adds many friends, But a poor person is separated from his friend.5A 10false witness will not go unpunished, And one who 11declares lies will not escape.612Many will seek the favor of a 13generous person, And every person is a friend to 14him who gives gifts.7All the brothers of a poor person hate him; How much more do his 15friends abandon him! He 16pursues them with words, but they are 17gone.8One who gets 18wisdom loves his own soul; One who keeps understanding will 19find good.9A 20false witness will not go unpunished, And one who declares lies will perish.10Luxury is 21not fitting for a fool; Much less for a 22slave to rule over princes.11A person’s 23discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory 24to overlook an offense.12A 25king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like 26dew on the grass.13A 27foolish son is destruction to his father, And the 28quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.14House and wealth are an 29inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.1530Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And 31a lazy 32person will suffer hunger.16One who 33keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who 34is careless of 35conduct will die.17One who 36is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his 3738good deed.1839Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire 40his death.19A person of great anger will suffer the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.2041Listen to advice and accept discipline, So that you may be wise 42the rest of your days.21Many 43plans are in a person’s heart, But the 44advice of the Lord will stand.22What is desirable in a person is his 45kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.2346The 47fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep 48satisfied, 4950untouched by evil.24The 5152lazy one buries his hand 53in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.2554Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever, But 55rebuke one who has understanding, and he will 56gain knowledge.26He 57who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.27Stop listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.28A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked 5859swallows wrongdoing.2960Judgments are prepared for 61scoffers, And 62beatings for the backs of fools.