Proverbs 19 (UDB)

1Compare a poor person who keeps his promises with a fool who is full of lies.Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2Also, consider that having desire without knowledge is like running so fast that you miss the path you want to take.Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

3The folly of a fool destroys his life, but he becomes furious with Yahweh for his troubles.A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4Those who are wealthy easily find many friends, but a poor person will find that his poverty separates him from the one friend he had.Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A person who lies in order to become a friend will be punished for taking advantage, just as the one whose every word he speaks is a lie will not escape.A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

6When a person is generous with his gifts, many people will ask for favors; it seems that everyone is a friend of the one who gives many gifts.Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7All the brothers of one who is poor hate him, and even more do his friends hate him and they go far away from him; he calls out to them but they have left.All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.

8The one who makes every effort to learn about wisdom loves himself; having understanding helps you know what is good and what is not.He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.

9The ones who lie when they give testimony will be punished, but the one whose every word is a lie, he will die.A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

10When a fool lives in luxury—it is not right, and it is even worse for a slave to rule over princes.Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11A person with good sense is slow to get angry, and it is to his honor that he overlooks it when someone does him wrong.A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

12What is the wrath of the king like? It is like the roaring of a young lion, but his kindness is like the dew on the grass.A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish child will ruin a father. A wife who is always quarreling will upset her husband like water that is constantly dripping.A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

14We can inherit houses and money from our parents, but a sensible wife is from Yahweh.Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15The one who is lazy finds that sleep comes easily to him, but anyone who refuses to work will go hungry.Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

16The one who follows the command he was taught puts a guard over his life, but the one who does not think about how he lives his life will die.He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.

17One who is kind to the poor—it is as if he were lending to Yahweh, and Yahweh will pay him for what he does.Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

18Train your children and give them discipline while it is still possible to rescue them, but do not allow them to offend you so much that you consider taking their lives.Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

19A hot-tempered person will pay a price for his anger; if you rescue him after he has an outburst, you will have to do it again and again.A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

20Pay attention to good guidance and let others teach you so that you can become wise by the end of your life.Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

21A person has many plans that come from within him, but Yahweh has his own plans, and he will carry them out.Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

22A person wants loyalty, and a poor person is better than a liar.The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.

23Anyone who has respect for Yahweh will live a long life; such a person who has this respect for Yahweh will be satisfied and will come to no harm.The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

24The lazy person puts his hand in the dish; he is not able to raise his hand up to his mouth to eat.The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25If you punish someone who mocks others, an uninstructed person will learn how to be prudent. If you correct someone who has understanding, he will gain more knowledge.Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

26Someone who steals from his father and alienates his mother brings shame and disgrace to himself.He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

27My son, if you will not listen to what you are taught, you will wander away from the words of knowledge.If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A lying witness laughs at anyone who acts justly, and wicked people act sinfully as easily as they eat food.A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29Yahweh is ready to punish those who make themselves out to be better than other people, and he is ready to flog the backs of fools.Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 19

The Man of Integrity

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Proverbs 19

The Man of Integrity

You’ve read Proverbs 19

Go Deeper