Proverbs 19

New King James Version

² Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

³ The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

^4 (B)Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵ A ^(C)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

⁶ Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
^7 (D)All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go ^(E)far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they ^[a]abandon him.

⁸ He who gets ^[b]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding ^(F)will find good.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

¹⁰ Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less ^(G)for a servant to rule over princes.

^11 (H)The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
^(I)And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

^12 (J)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is ^(K)like dew on the grass.

^13 (L)A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
^(M)And the contentions of a wife are a continual ^[c]dripping.

^14 (N)Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But ^(O)a prudent wife is from the Lord.

^15 (P)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will ^(Q)suffer hunger.

^16 (R)He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who ^[d]is careless of his ways will die.

^17 (S)He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.

^18 (T)Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart ^[e]on his destruction.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise ^(U)in your latter days.

²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart,
^(V)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

²² What is desired in a man is ^[f]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

^23 (W)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

^24 (X)A lazy man buries his hand in the ^[g]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple ^(Y)will become wary;
^(Z)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁶ He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is ^(AA)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

²⁸ A ^[h]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And ^(AB)the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
^(AC)And beatings for the backs of fools.