Proverbs 19:1-20:13

New International Version

19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.^(A)

² Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!^(B)

³ A person’s own folly^(C) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.^(D)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.^(E)

⁵ A false witness^(F) will not go unpunished,^(G)
    and whoever pours out lies will not go free.^(H)

⁶ Many curry favor with a ruler,^(I)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.^(J)

⁷ The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!^(K)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.^[a](L)

⁸ The one who gets wisdom loves life;
    the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.^(M)

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and whoever pours out lies will perish.^(N)

¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool^(O) to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!^(P)

¹¹ A person’s wisdom yields patience;^(Q)
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

¹² A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,^(R)
    but his favor is like dew^(S) on the grass.^(T)

¹³ A foolish child is a father’s ruin,^(U)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.^(V)

¹⁴ Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,^(W)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.^(X)

¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep,
    and the shiftless go hungry.^(Y)

¹⁶ Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.^(Z)

¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,^(AA)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.^(AB)

¹⁸ Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.^(AC)

¹⁹ A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

²⁰ Listen to advice and accept discipline,^(AD)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.^(AE)

²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.^(AF)

²² What a person desires is unfailing love^[b];
    better to be poor than a liar.

²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.^(AG)

²⁴ A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!^(AH)

²⁵ Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
    rebuke the discerning,^(AI) and they will gain knowledge.^(AJ)

²⁶ Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother^(AK)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

²⁷ Stop listening to instruction, my son,^(AL)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.^(AM)

²⁹ Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.^(AN)

20 Wine^(AO) is a mocker^(AP) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray^(AQ) by them is not wise.^(AR)

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;^(AS)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.^(AT)

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool^(AU) is quick to quarrel.^(AV)

⁴ Sluggards^(AW) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.^(AX)

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,^(AY)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶ Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?^(AZ)

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;^(BA)
    blessed are their children after them.^(BB)

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,^(BC)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.^(BD)

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;^(BE)
    I am clean and without sin”?^(BF)

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.^(BG)

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure^(BH) and upright?

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.^(BI)

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;^(BJ)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.