Proverbs 19

¹ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.

² It is not good for a man to be without knowledge, and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way.

³ When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

⁴ Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

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

⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man, and every one is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

⁷ All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

⁸ He who gets wisdom loves himself; he who keeps understanding will prosper.

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

¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

¹¹ Good sense makes a man slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

¹² A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew upon the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

¹⁴ House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He who keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises the word will die.

¹⁷ He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope; d o not set your heart on his destruction.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty; for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.

²¹ Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.

²² What is desired in a man is loyalty, and a poor man is better than a liar.

²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life; and he who has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear instruction only to stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

²⁹ Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and flogging for the backs of fools.