Pro 19 | HCSB | STEP | Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool .

‏ Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man who lives with integrity ^a

than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, ^b
and the one who acts hastily ^{▼▼Lit who is hasty with feet} sins. ^d

3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord. ^e

4 Wealth attracts many friends, ^f
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, ^g
and one who utters lies will not escape. ^h

6 Many seek a ruler’s favor, ⁱ
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. ^j

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; ^k
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words, ^l
but they are not there. ^{▼▼Hb uncertain}

8 The one who acquires good sense ^{▼▼Lit acquires a heart} loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success. ^o

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes. ^p

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool ^q –
how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ^r

11 A person’s insight gives him patience, ^s
and his virtue is to overlook an offense. ^t

12 A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion, ^u
but his favor is like dew on the grass. ^v

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, ^w
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping. ^x

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, ^y
but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry. ^z

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself; ^aa
one who disregards ^{▼▼Or despises, or treats lightly} his ways will die. ^ac

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, ^ad
and He will give a reward to the lender. ^{▼▼Lit to him
,} ^af

18 Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t be intent on killing him. ^{▼▼Lit don’t lift up your soul to his death
,} ^ah

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again. ^ai

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life. ^{▼▼Lit in your end
,} ^ak

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail. ^al

22 What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;
better to be a poor man than a liar. ^am

23 The ^{▼▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.}fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night ^{▼▼Lit will spend the night satisfied} without danger. ^ap

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth. ^aq

25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; ^ar
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge. ^as

26 The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

27 If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. ^at

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools. ^au