Proverbs 19

Integrity Is Better

1Better is a poor person
who walks in integrity
than one crooked in speech
and a fool. 2Desire without knowledge
is not good,
and whoever hurries with their feet
misses the way. 3A person’s folly
ruins their way,
and then their heart
rages against the LORD. 4Wealth adds many friends,
but the poor are separated
even from a friend. 5A false witness
will not go unpunished,
and one who breathes out lies
will not escape.

6Many seek the favor
of a generous person,
and everyone is a friend
to one who gives gifts. 7All the relatives of the poor
may hate them;
how much more
do their friends avoid them.
They pursue them with words,
but they are gone. 8Whoever acquires understanding
loves their own life;
whoever guards discernment
will find good. 9A false witness
will not go unpunished,
and one who breathes out lies
will perish. 10Luxury is not fitting
for a fool,
much less a servant
ruling over princes.

Patience and Household Wisdom

11A person’s discretion
makes them slow to anger,
and it is their glory
to overlook an offense. 12A king’s anger
is like the roaring of a lion,
but the king’s favor
is like dew upon the grass. 13A foolish child
is disaster to a father,
and the quarrels of a spouse
are a continual dripping. 14House and wealth
are inherited from parents,
but a prudent spouse
is from the LORD. 15Laziness casts one
into deep sleep,
and an idle person
will go hungry.

Compassion and Discipline

16Whoever keeps the commandment
keeps their life;
whoever despises their ways
will die. 17Whoever shows favor to the poor
lends to the LORD,
and the LORD
will repay the deed. 18Discipline your child
while there is hope;
do not set your heart
on their destruction. 19One of great anger
must bear the penalty;
if you rescue them,
you will only have to do it again. 20Listen to counsel
and receive discipline
so that you may become wise
in your future.

The Purpose of the LORD

21Many are the plans
in a person’s heart,
but the purpose of the LORD
will stand. 22What is desirable in a person
is steadfast love,
and a poor person
is better than a liar. 23The fear of the LORD
leads to life;
one rests satisfied
and is not visited by harm. 24A lazy person
buries a hand in the dish
and will not even bring it
back to the mouth. 25Strike a scoffer,
and the simple may become prudent;
correct the discerning,
and they will understand knowledge.

26Whoever mistreats a father
and drives away a mother
is a child who brings shame
and disgrace. 27My child,
if you stop listening to discipline,
you will stray
from words of knowledge. 28A worthless witness
mocks justice,
and the mouth of the wicked
devours wrongdoing. 29Judgments are prepared
for scoffers,
and blows
for the backs of fools.