The chapter opens by declaring that a poor person who walks in integrity is better than a fool whose lips are perverse. Desire or zeal without knowledge is not good, and hasty feet miss the way. Folly ruins a person's life, yet the heart may rage against the LORD, exposing the sinner's tendency to blame God for self-inflicted ruin.
Proverbs 19:1
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
Proverbs 19:3
3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
Wealth attracts many friends, while poverty can leave a person deserted. False witnesses and liars will not escape punishment. Many seek the favor of rulers, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. The poor are shunned even by relatives, and friends may avoid their pleas. These sayings expose the social distortions created by wealth, poverty, and self-interest.
Proverbs 19:4
4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Proverbs 19:6
6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
Proverbs 19:7
7 All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
The one who gets wisdom loves life, and the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will perish. Luxury does not fit a fool, much less a slave ruling over princes. A person's wisdom yields patience, and it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. A king's rage is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on grass. A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like constant dripping. Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Proverbs 19:8
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:10
10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:12
12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:13
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
Proverbs 19:14
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
Laziness brings deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. Whoever keeps commandments keeps life, while the one who despises his ways will die. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, who will reward them. Parents are told to discipline children while there is hope and not be party to their death. A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty, for repeated rescue only requires rescuing again. The learner is commanded to listen to advice and accept discipline so that he may become wise in the future.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
Proverbs 19:17
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
Proverbs 19:18
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
Proverbs 19:19
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but the LORD's purpose prevails. What a person desires is unfailing love, and better to be poor than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing rest, satisfaction, and protection from harm. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. Flogging a mocker can teach the simple prudence, while rebuking the discerning produces knowledge. One who robs father and drives out mother is a disgraceful child. If one stops listening to instruction, he will stray from knowledge. A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. Penalties are prepared for mockers and beatings for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 19:21
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
Proverbs 19:22
22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
Proverbs 19:23
23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
Proverbs 19:24
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Proverbs 19:25
25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
Proverbs 19:26
26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
Proverbs 19:27
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:28
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
Proverbs 19:29
29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.