Proverbs 19

¹Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool .

²Desire without knowledge is not good , and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way .

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

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

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

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

⁷All 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.

⁸Whoever gets sense loves his own soul ; he who keeps understanding will discover good .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life ; he who despises his ways will die .

¹⁷Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed .

¹⁸Discipline your son , for there is hope ; do not set your heart on putting him to death .

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

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

²¹Many are the plans in the mind of a man , but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand .

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

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

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

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

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

²⁷Cease to hear instruction , my son , and you will stray from the words of knowledge .

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

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