Proverbs 19

¹ Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich.

² Without knowledge even zeal is not good; and he who acts hastily, blunders.

³ A man's own folly upsets his way, but his heart is resentful against the LORD.

⁴ Wealth adds many friends, but the friend of the poor man deserts him.

⁵ The false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will not escape.

⁶ Many curry favor with a noble; all are friends of the man who has something to give.

⁷ All the poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends shun him!

⁸ He who gains intelligence is his own best friend; he who keeps understanding will be successful.

⁹ The false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will perish.

¹⁰ Luxury is not befitting a fool; much less should a slave rule over princes.

¹¹ It is good sense in a man to be slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

¹² The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor, like dew on the grass.

¹³ The foolish son is ruin to his father, and the nagging of a wife is a persistent leak.

¹⁴ Home and possessions are an inheritance from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

¹⁵ Laziness plunges a man into deep sleep, and the sluggard must go hungry.

¹⁶ He who keeps the precept keeps his life, but the despiser of the word will die.

¹⁷ He who has compassion on the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his good deed.

¹⁸ Chastise your son, for in this there is hope; but do not desire his death.

¹⁹ The man of violent temper pays the penalty; even if you rescue him, you will have it to do again.

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may eventually become wise.

²¹ Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the decision of the LORD that endures.

²² From a man's greed comes his shame; rather be a poor man than a liar.

²³ The fear of the LORD is an aid to life; one eats and sleeps without being visited by misfortune.

²⁴ The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he will not even lift it to his mouth.

²⁵ If you beat an arrogant man, the simple learn a lesson; if you rebuke an intelligent man, he gains knowledge.

²⁶ He who mistreats his father, or drives away his mother, is a worthless and disgraceful son.

²⁷ If a son ceases to hear instruction, he wanders from words of knowledge.

²⁸ An unprincipled witness perverts justice, and the mouth of the wicked pours out iniquity.

²⁹ Rods are prepared for the arrogant, and blows for the backs of fools.