Proverbs 19:1-29
19 Anyone of little means who is walking in his integrity is better+ than the one crooked in his lips,* and the one that is stupid.+
2 Also, that the soul should be without knowledge is not good,+ and he that is hastening with his feet is sinning.*+
3 It is the foolishness of an earthling man that distorts his way,+ and so his heart becomes enraged against Jehovah himself.+
4 Wealth is what adds many companions,+ but one that is lowly gets separated even from his companion.+
5 A false witness will not be free from punishment,+ and he that launches forth lies will not escape.+
6 Many are those who soften the face of a noble,+ and everybody is a companion to the man making gifts.+
7 The brothers of one of little means have all hated him.+ How much farther have his personal friends kept away from him!+ He is pursuing with things to say; they are not.+
8 He that is acquiring heart*+ is loving his own soul. He that is guarding discernment is going to find good.+
9 The false witness will not be free from punishment,+ and he that launches forth lies will perish.+
10 Luxury is not fitting for anyone stupid.+ How much less for a servant to rule over princes!+
11 The insight of a man* certainly slows down his anger,+ and it is beauty on his part to pass over transgression.+
12 The raging of a king is a growling like that of a maned young lion,+ but his goodwill is like the dew upon the vegetation.+
13 A stupid son means adversities to his father,+ and the contentions of a wife are as a leaking roof that drives one away.+
14 The inheritance from fathers is a house and wealth,+ but a discreet wife is from Jehovah.+
15 Laziness causes a deep sleep to fall,+ and a slack soul goes hungry.+
16 He that is keeping the commandment is keeping his soul;+ he that is despising his ways will be put to death.+
17 He that is showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah,+ and his treatment He will repay to him.+
18 Chastise your son while there exists hope;+ and to the putting of him to death do not lift up your soul[ful desire].+
19 He that is of great rage will be bearing the fine;+ for if you would deliver [him], you will also keep doing it again and again.+
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline,+ in order that you may become wise in your future.+
21 Many are the plans in the heart of a man,*+ but the counsel of Jehovah is what will stand.+
22 The desirable thing in earthling man* is his loving-kindness;+ and one of little means is better than a lying man.+
23 The fear of Jehovah tends toward life,+ and one will spend the night satisfied;+ one will not be visited with what is bad.+
24 The lazy one has hidden his hand in the banquet bowl;+ he cannot bring it back even to his own mouth.+
25 The ridiculer you should strike,+ that the inexperienced one may become shrewd;+ and there should be a reproving of the understanding one, that he may discern knowledge.+
26 He that is maltreating a father [and] that chases a mother away+ is a son acting shamefully and disgracefully.+
27 Cease, my son, to listen to discipline [and it will mean] to stray from the sayings of knowledge.+
28 A good-for-nothing witness* derides justice,+ and the very mouth of wicked people swallows down what is hurtful.+
29 Judgments have been firmly established for ridiculers,+ and strokes for the back of stupid ones.+
Footnotes
^ “Lips,” MVg; TSy and about 50 Heb. mss, “ways.”
^ Or, “He that is acquiring good motive.” Heb., qo·neh-levʹ.
^ Or, “The insight of an earthling man.” Heb., seʹkhel ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ “In the heart of a man.” Heb., belev-ʼishʹ.
^ “The desirable thing in earthling man.” Heb., ta·ʼawathʹ ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ Lit., “A witness of belial.” Heb., ʽedh beli·yaʹʽal.
