Proverbs 19

If You Quit Listening

1 Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
2 Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.
3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?
4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.
5 Perjury won't go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free?
6 Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.
7 When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you— yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way— out of sight, out of mind.
8 Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.
9 The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined.
10 Blockheads shouldn't live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss.
11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.
13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child; a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.
14 House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.
15 Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry.
16 Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills.
17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.
18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them.
19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you'll only make it worse.
20 Take good counsel and accept correction— that's the way to live wisely and well.
21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails.
22 It's only human to want to make a buck, but it's better to be poor than a liar.
23 Fear-of-God is life itself, a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.
24 Some people dig a fork into the pie but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them. Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.
26 Kids who lash out against their parents are an embarrassment and disgrace.
27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll soon be out of your depth.
28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice; the mouths of the wicked spew malice.
29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.

Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.

10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.

18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; and set not thy heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.

24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.