Chapter 19

On Life and Conduct

1 aBetter is a poor man who bwalks in his integrity

Than he who is perverse in 1speech and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,

And he who hurries 1ahis footsteps 2errs.

3 The afoolishness of man ruins his way,

And his heart brages against the Lord.

4 aWealth adds many friends,

But a poor man is separated from his friend.

5 A afalse witness will not go unpunished,

And he who 1btells lies will not escape.

6 aMany will seek the favor of a 1generous man,

And every man is a friend to him who bgives gifts.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;

How much more do his afriends abandon him!

He bpursues them with words, but they are 1gone.

8 He who gets 1wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will afind good.

9 A afalse witness will not go unpunished,

And he who 1tells lies will perish.

10 Luxury is anot fitting for a fool;

Much less for a bslave to rule over princes.

11 A man’s adiscretion makes him slow to anger,

And it is his glory bto overlook a transgression.

12 The aking’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

But his favor is like bdew on the grass.

13 A afoolish son is destruction to his father,

And the bcontentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

14 House and wealth are an ainheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 aLaziness casts into a deep sleep,

And an idle 1man will suffer hunger.

16 He who akeeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But he who 1is careless of 2conduct will die.

17 One who ais gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,

And He will repay him for his 1bgood deed.

18 aDiscipline your son while there is hope,

And do not desire 1his death.

19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty,

For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

20 aListen to counsel and accept discipline,

That you may be wise 1the rest of your days.

21 Many aplans are in a man’s heart,

But the bcounsel of the Lord will stand.

22 What is desirable in a man is his 1kindness,

And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

23 The 1afear of the Lord leads to life,

So that one may sleep bsatisfied, 2cuntouched by evil.

24 The asluggard buries his hand bin the dish,

But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 aStrike a scoffer and the 1naive may become shrewd,

But breprove one who has understanding and he will 2gain knowledge.

26 He awho assaults his father and drives his mother away

Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,

And the mouth of the wicked 1aspreads iniquity.

29 1Judgments are prepared for ascoffers,

And bblows for the back of fools.