Proverbs 19 (English Standard Version)

1 ¹Better is a poor person who ²walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. 2 Desire^a without knowledge is not good, and whoever ³makes haste with his feet misses his way. 3 When a man's folly ⁴brings his way to ruin, his heart ⁵rages against the LORD. 4 ⁶Wealth brings many new friends, ⁷but a poor man is deserted by his friend. 5 ⁸A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who ⁹breathes out lies will not escape. 6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,^b and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ¹⁰gifts. 7 ¹¹All a poor man's brothers hate him; ¹²how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^c 8 ¹³Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will ¹⁴discover good. 9 ¹⁵A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who ¹⁶breathes out lies will perish. 10 ¹⁷It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for ¹⁸a slave to rule over princes. 11 ¹⁹Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 A king's wrath is like ²⁰the growling of a lion, but his ²¹favor is like ²²dew on the grass. 13 ²³A foolish son is ruin to his father, and ²⁴a wife's quarreling is ²⁵a continual dripping of rain. 14 ²⁶House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is ²⁷from the LORD. 15 ²⁸Slothfulness casts into ²⁹a deep sleep, and ³⁰an idle person will suffer hunger. 16 Whoever ³¹keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. 17 ³²Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he ³³will repay him for his ³⁴deed. 18 ³⁵Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on ³⁶putting him to death. 19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in ³⁷the future. 21 ³⁸Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but ³⁹it is the purpose of the LORD⁴⁰that will stand. 22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD⁴¹leads to life, and whoever has it rests ⁴²satisfied; he will ⁴³not be visited by harm. 24 ⁴⁴The sluggard buries his hand in ⁴⁵the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25 ⁴⁶Strike ⁴⁷a scoffer, and the simple will ⁴⁸learn prudence; ⁴⁹reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is ⁵⁰a son who brings shame and reproach. 27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, ⁵¹and you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked ⁵²devours iniquity. 29 Condemnation is ready for ⁵³scoffers, and ⁵⁴beating for the backs of fools.