Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, 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?

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally despises, figurative of recklessness or carelessness
• [b]. Literally to put him to death; a Jewish tradition reads his crying.
• [c]. Septuagint and Syriac read bosom; Targum and Vulgate read armpit.

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.