Proverbs 19  Common English Bible

19 Better to be poor and walk in innocence
    than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
² Ignorant desire isn’t good;
    rushing feet make mistakes.
³ People’s own folly corrupts their way,
    but their hearts rage against the Lord.
⁴ Riches increase one’s friends,
    but the poor lose their friends.
⁵ A false witness won’t go unpunished,
    and a liar won’t escape.
⁶ Many seek favor from rulers;
    everyone befriends a gift giver.
⁷ All the relatives of the poor hate them;
    even more, their friends stay far from them.
    When they pursue them with words, they aren’t there.
⁸ Those who acquire good sense love themselves;
    those who keep understanding find success.
⁹ False witnesses won’t go unpunished,
    and liars will perish.
¹⁰ Luxury isn’t fitting for a fool;
    even less so for a servant to rule over princes.
¹¹ Insightful people restrain their anger;
    their glory is to ignore an offense.
¹² A raging king roars like a lion;
    his favor is like the dew on the grass.
¹³ A foolish son is a disaster to his father;
    a contentious wife is like constant dripping.
¹⁴ House and riches are an inheritance from one’s ancestors,
    but an insightful wife is from the Lord.
¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    a slacker goes hungry.
¹⁶ Those who keep the commandment preserve their lives;
    those who disregard their ways will die.
¹⁷ Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord,
    and the Lord will fully repay them.
¹⁸ Discipline your children while there is hope,
    but don’t plan to kill them.
¹⁹ Angry people must pay the penalty;
    if you rescue them, then you will have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    so you might grow wise in the future.
²¹ Many plans are in a person’s mind,
    but the Lord’s purpose will succeed.
²² People long for trustworthiness;
    it is better to be poor than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by harm.
²⁴ Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl;
    they won’t even put it to their mouth.
²⁵ Strike someone who scoffs, and a naive person will become clever;
    correct someone with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.
²⁶ Those who assault their father and drive out their mother
    are disgraceful children, worthy of reproach.
²⁷ If, my child, you stop listening to discipline,
    you will wander away from words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice;
    the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.
²⁹ Punishments were made for mockers,
    and blows for the backs of fools.