Proverbs 19

1 It is better to be poor and to live without blame than to be foolish and to twist words around.

2 It isn't good to get all stirred up without knowledge. And it isn't good to be in a hurry and miss the way.

3 A man's own foolish acts destroy his life. But his heart is angry with the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many friends. But the friends of poor people leave them alone.

5 A dishonest witness will be punished. And those who pour out lies will not go free.

6 Many try to win the favor of rulers. And everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

7 A poor person is avoided by his whole family. His friends avoid him even more. The poor person runs after them to beg. But he can't find them.

8 Anyone who gets wisdom loves himself. Anyone who values understanding succeeds.

9 A dishonest witness will be punished. And those who pour out lies will die.

10 It isn't proper for a foolish person to live in great comfort. And it is much worse when a slave rules over princes!

11 A man's wisdom makes him patient. He will be honored if he forgives someone who sins against him.

12 A king's anger is like a lion's roar. But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 If a child is foolish, he destroys his father. A nagging wife is like dripping that never stops.

14 You will receive houses and wealth from your parents. But a wise wife is given by the Lord.

15 Anyone who doesn't want to work sleeps his life away. And a person who refuses to work goes hungry.

16 Those who obey what they are taught guard their lives. But those who don't care how they live will die.

17 Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward him for what he has done.

18 Train your child. Then there is hope. Don't do anything to bring about his death.

19 Anyone who burns with anger must pay for it. If you save him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept what you are taught. In the end you will be wise.

21 A man may have many plans in his heart. But the LORD's purpose wins out in the end.

22 Every man longs for love that never fails. It is better to be poor than to be a liar.

23 Having respect for the LORD leads to life. Then you will be content and free from trouble.

24 A person who doesn't want to work leaves his hand in the dish. He won't even bring it back up to his mouth!

25 If you whip a person who makes fun of others, childish people will learn to be wise. If you warn someone who already understands what is right, he will gain even more knowledge.

26 A child who robs his father and drives out his mother brings shame and dishonor.

27 My son, if you stop listening to what I teach you, you will wander away from the words of knowledge.

28 A dishonest witness makes fun of what is right. The mouths of those who do wrong gulp down evil.

29 Those who make fun of others will be judged. Foolish people will be punished.

Proverbs 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Verse 1 A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank. Verse 2 . What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet. Verse 3 . Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God. Verse 4 . Here we may see how strong is men's love of money. Verse 5 . Those that tell lies in discourse, are in a fair way to be guilty of bearing false-witness. Verse 6 . We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty. Verse 7 . Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty. Verse 8 . Those only love their souls aright that get true wisdom. Verse 9 . Lying is a damning, destroying sin. Verse 10 . A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men. Verse 11 . He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. Verse 12 . Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. Verse 13 . It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort. Verse 14 . A discreet and virtuous wife is more valuable than house and riches. Verse 15 . A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come. Verse 16 . If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner. Verse 17 . God has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom. Verse 18 . When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves. Verse 19 . The spared and spoiled child is likely to become a man of great wrath. Verse 20 . Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young. Verse 21 . What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God's holy will? Verse 22 . It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it. Verse 23 . Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness. Verse 24 . Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves. Verse 25 . A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding. Verse 26 . The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace. Verse 27 . It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind. Verse 28 . Those are the worst of sinners, who are glad of an opportunity to sin. Verse 29 . The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?

Chapter Summary

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.