Proverbs 19; Proverbs 20; Proverbs 21

Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.

2 Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.

3 The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.

4 Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall not escape.

6 Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth gifts.

7 The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.

8 But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence, shall find good things.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.

10 Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs.

12 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.

14 House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die.

17 He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.

18 Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.

19 He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away, he shall add another thing.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

22 A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.

23 The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the fulness without being visited with evil.

24 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth.

25 The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline.

26 He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.

27 Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.

28 An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise.

2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.

3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.

5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.

6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?

7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.

8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.

9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.

11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.

13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.

15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.

17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.

19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.

20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.

21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.

22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will deliver thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.

24 The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?

25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.

27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.

29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.

30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.

Proverbs 21

1 As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it.

2 Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.

3 To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.

4 Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.

5 The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.

6 He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.

7 The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.

8 The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.

9 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.

11 When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.

12 The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.

13 He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.

14 A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the greatest wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.

16 A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.

17 He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.

18 The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.

19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.

20 There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.

21 He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.

22 The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.

24 The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.

25 Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.

26 He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.

27 The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.

28 A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.

29 The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.

30 There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.