Proverbs 19:1-9

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.

Proverbs 19:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.