Proverbs 19 (New American Standard)

On Life and Conduct

1 ¹Better is a poor man who ²walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in ^aspeech and is a fool. 2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries ^b3his footsteps ^cerrs. 3 The ⁴foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart ⁵rages against the LORD. 4 ⁶Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. 5 A ⁷false witness will not go unpunished, And he who ^d8tells lies will not escape. 6 ⁹Many will seek the favor of a ^egenerous man, And every man is a friend to him who ¹⁰gives gifts. 7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his ¹¹friends abandon him! He ¹²pursues them with words, but they are ^fgone. 8 He who gets ^gwisdom loves his own soul ; He who keeps understanding will ¹³find good. 9 A ¹⁴false witness will not go unpunished, And he who ^htells lies will perish. 10 Luxury is ¹⁵not fitting for a fool ; Much less for a ¹⁶slave to rule over princes. 11 A man's ¹⁷discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory ¹⁸to overlook a transgression. 12 The ¹⁹king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like ²⁰dew on the grass. 13 A ²¹foolish son is destruction to his father, And the ²²contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. 14 House and wealth are an ²³inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 ²⁴Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle ⁱman will suffer hunger. 16 He who ²⁵keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who ^jis careless of ^kconduct will die. 17 One who ²⁶is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his ^l27good deed. 18 ²⁸Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire ^mhis death. 19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. 20 ²⁹Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise ⁿthe rest of your days. 21 Many ³⁰plans are in a man's heart, But the ³¹counsel of the LORD will stand. 22 What is desirable in a man is his ^okindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar . 23 The ^p32fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep ³³satisfied, ^q34untouched by evil. 24 The ³⁵sluggard buries his hand ³⁶in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25 ³⁷Strike a scoffer and the ^rnaive may become shrewd, But ³⁸reprove one who has understanding and he will ^sgain knowledge. 26 He ³⁹who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son. 27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked ^t40spreads iniquity. 29 ^uJudgments are prepared for ⁴¹scoffers, And ⁴²blows for the back of fools.