Proverbs 19

1 Better to be a poor person who lives innocently than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool.

2 A person without knowledge is no good. A person in a hurry makes mistakes.

3 The stupidity of a person turns his life upside down, and his heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

5 A lying witness will not go unpunished. One who tells lies will not escape.

6 Many try to win the kindness of a generous person, and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.

7 The entire family of a poor person hates him. How much more do his friends keep their distance from him! When he chases them with words, they are gone.

8 A person who gains sense loves himself. One who guards understanding finds something good.

9 A lying witness will not go unpunished. One who tells lies will die.

10 Luxury does not fit a fool, much less a slave ruling princes.

11 A person with good sense is patient, and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.

12 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son ruins his father, and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.

14 Home and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife comes from the LORD.

15 Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

16 Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, [but] whoever despises the LORD's ways will be put to death.

17 Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his good deed.

18 Discipline your son while there is still hope. Do not be the one responsible for his death.

19 A person who has a hot temper will pay for it. If you rescue him, you will have to do it over and over.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your life.

21 Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the LORD will endure.

22 Loyalty is desirable in a person, and it is better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm.

24 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. He doesn't even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson. Warn an understanding person, and he will gain more knowledge.

26 A son who assaults his father [and] who drives away his mother brings shame and disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice, and the mouths of wicked people swallow up trouble.

29 Punishments are set for mockers and beatings for the backs of fools.

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.