ProverbsChapter 19

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¹It is better to be poor and honest
than to be a fool whose lips are twisted. ²Even eagerness is no good without knowledge.
Whoever rushes ahead misses the mark. ³A man's own foolishness ruins his life.
Yet his heart is angry at the LORD. ⁴Wealth brings many friends.
But a poor man is left alone by his friend. ⁵A false witness will not escape punishment.
Whoever tells lies will not get away. ⁶Many people try to win the favor of a ruler.
Everyone is a friend to the one who gives gifts. ⁷All the brothers of a poor man hate him.
His friends stay away from him even more!
He may run after them and beg,
but they are nowhere to be found. ⁸Whoever gets wisdom loves himself.
Whoever holds on to understanding will do well. ⁹A false witness will not escape punishment.
Whoever pours out lies will die. ¹⁰It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury.
It is even worse for a slave to rule over princes! ¹¹A man's good sense makes him patient.
It is to his credit to overlook a wrong. ¹²A king's anger is like a lion's roar.
But his favor is like dew on the grass. ¹³A foolish son ruins his father.
A wife who quarrels is like a leak that keeps dripping. ¹⁴Houses and wealth are passed down from fathers.
But a wise wife is from the LORD. ¹⁵Laziness brings on deep sleep.
A lazy person will go hungry. ¹⁶Whoever keeps a command keeps his life safe.
But whoever is careless in how he lives will die. ¹⁷Being kind to the poor is like lending to the LORD.
He will pay back the one who gives. ¹⁸Correct your son, because there is hope.
Do not be the cause of his death. ¹⁹A man with a bad temper must pay the price.
If you rescue him, you will have to do it again. ²⁰Listen to advice and accept correction.
Then you will be wise for the rest of your life. ²¹A man has many plans in his heart.
But the LORD's purpose will win out. ²²What a man longs for is faithful love.
It is better to be poor than to be a liar. ²³The fear of the LORD leads to life.
Then a person can rest happy, and harm will not come to him. ²⁴The lazy man sticks his hand in the dish.
He won't even lift it back to his mouth. ²⁵Hit a mocker, and simple people will learn to be careful.
Correct a wise man, and he will gain knowledge. ²⁶A son who attacks his father or throws out his mother
brings shame and disgrace. ²⁷My son, if you stop listening to teaching,
you will wander away from the words of knowledge. ²⁸A crooked witness makes fun of justice.
A wicked mouth gulps down sin. ²⁹Punishments are ready for mockers.
Beatings are ready for the backs of fools.