Chapter 19

¹Better is the poor who walks in integrity than one who speaks perversely and is a fool.

²Zeal without knowledge is not good, and haste leads to error.

³A person’s folly ruins their way, yet their heart rages against the Lord.

⁴Wealth brings many friends, but the poor is deserted by companions.

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

⁶Many seek the favor of a noble, and all are friends to one who gives gifts.

⁷The poor is shunned by all their kin; how much more do their friends flee! They pursue with words, but find no help.

⁸One who gains understanding loves their own soul; one who keeps wisdom finds good.

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will perish.

¹⁰Luxury does not suit a fool; much less a servant ruling over princes.

¹¹A person’s insight grants patience, and their glory is to overlook an offense.

¹²A king’s wrath is like a lion’s roar; his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish child is a calamity to their father, and a quarrelsome spouse is like a constant dripping.

¹⁴House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent spouse is from the Lord.

¹⁵Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle soul will hunger.

¹⁶One who keeps a command preserves their soul; one who despises their ways will die.

¹⁷One who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay their deed.

¹⁸Discipline your child while there is hope; do not set your heart on their destruction.

¹⁹A hot-tempered person will bear the penalty, for if you rescue them, you must do it again.

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

²¹Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails.

²²What is desired in a person is kindness, and a poor person is better than a liar.

²³The fear of the Lord leads to life; one rests content, untouched by harm.

²⁴The sluggard buries their hand in the dish but will not lift it to their mouth.

²⁵Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn caution; reprove the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

²⁶One who assaults their father or drives away their mother is a shameful and disgraceful child.

²⁷Cease, my child, to heed instruction only to stray from words of knowledge.

²⁸A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the backs of fools. Proverbs 20 The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 20 – VKJV