3 The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart. 4 Wealth acquires many friends; but the poor is deserted even of the friend he has. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that accuses unjustly shall not escape. 6 Many court the favour of kings; but every bad man becomes a reproach to [another] man. 7 Every one who hates [his] poor brother shall also be far from friendship. Good understanding will draw near to them that know it, and a sensible man will find it. He that does much harm perfects mischief; and he that uses provoking words shall not escape. 8 He that procures wisdom loves himself; and he that keeps wisdom shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; and whosoever shall kindle mischief shall perish by it. 10 Delight does not suit a fool, nor [is it seemly] if a servant should begin to rule with haughtiness. 11 A merciful man is long-suffering; and his triumph overtakes transgressors. 12 The threatening of a king is like the roaring of a lion; but as dew on the grass, so is his favour. 13 A foolish son is a disgrace to his father: vows [paid out] of the hire of a harlot are not pure. 14 Fathers divide house and substance to [their] children: but a wife is suited to a man by the Lord. 15 Cowardice possesses the effeminate [man]; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger. 16 He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall perish. 17 He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; and he will recompense to him according to his gift. 18 Chasten thy son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in thy soul to haughtiness. 19 A malicious man shall be severely punished, and if he commit injury, he shall also lose his life. 20 Hear, son, the instruction of thy father, that thou mayest be wise at thy latter end. 21 [There are] many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord abides for ever. 22 Mercy is a fruit to a man: and a poor man is better than a rich liar. 23 The fear of the Lord is life to a man: and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen. 24 He that unjustly hides his hands in his bosom, will not even [bring] them up to his mouth. 25 When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if thou reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion. 26 He that dishonours his father, and drives away his mother, shall be disgraced and shall be exposed to reproach. 27 A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs. 28 He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance: and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgments. 29 Scourges are preparing for the intemperate, and punishments likewise for fools.
Proverbs · Brenton's English Septuagint
Proverbs 19 Brenton's English Septuagint
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Square brackets mark words Brenton supplied for English sense.
- Old Testament only (no New Testament). First printed 1844; the 1851 edition added the deuterocanonical books.
There are no verses 1–2 in this translation; the other verses keep their usual numbers.
Cross references (27)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 3 Revelation 16:9–11; Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 11:3; 1 Samuel 22:13–23; 2 Chronicles 16:9–10
- 4 Proverbs 14:20; Proverbs 19:6–7; Luke 15:13–15; Job 19:13–17; Proverbs 10:15
- 5 Proverbs 21:28; Proverbs 6:19; Exodus 23:1; Proverbs 19:9; Daniel 6:24
- 6 Proverbs 29:26; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 17:8; Genesis 42:6; Romans 6:23
- 7 Psalm 88:8; Proverbs 18:23; 1 John 3:17–18; Psalm 38:11; Proverbs 19:4
- 8 Proverbs 16:20; Proverbs 8:35–36; Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 3:18; 1 Peter 3:10
- 9 Revelation 22:15; Proverbs 19:5; Revelation 19:20; 2 Peter 2:1–3; Revelation 21:8
- 10 Proverbs 30:21–22; Proverbs 26:1; Luke 16:19; Luke 16:23; James 4:9
- 11 Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 14:29; James 1:19; Colossians 3:12–13; Proverbs 15:18
- 12 Hosea 14:5; Proverbs 20:2; Luke 12:4–5; Proverbs 16:14–15; Proverbs 28:15
- 13 Proverbs 21:9; Proverbs 27:15; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 17:21
- 14 Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 31:10–31; Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 3:6; James 1:17
- 15 Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 20:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 6:9–10; Romans 13:11–12
- 16 Proverbs 13:13; Luke 10:28; 1 John 5:3; Luke 11:28; 1 John 3:22
- 17 Proverbs 28:27; Hebrews 6:10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Matthew 25:40
- 18 Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13–14; Hebrews 12:7–10
- 19 Proverbs 25:28; 1 Samuel 24:17–22; Proverbs 29:22; 2 Samuel 16:5–6; Proverbs 22:24–25
- 20 Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 8:34–35; Proverbs 2:1–9; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 4:1
- 21 Proverbs 16:9; Isaiah 14:24; Proverbs 16:1; Psalm 33:10–11; Isaiah 46:10
- 22 2 Corinthians 8:12; 2 Chronicles 6:8; Mark 14:6–8; Mark 12:41–44; Proverbs 19:1
- 23 Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 14:26–27; Isaiah 58:10–11; Proverbs 12:21; 1 Timothy 4:8
- 24 Proverbs 15:19; Proverbs 6:9–10; Proverbs 26:13–16; Proverbs 24:30–34; Proverbs 19:15
- 25 Proverbs 21:11; Proverbs 17:10; Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 9:8–10
- 26 Proverbs 10:5; Proverbs 28:24; Proverbs 30:17; Proverbs 17:2; Proverbs 17:25
- 27 1 Timothy 6:3–5; Mark 4:24; 1 John 4:1; Proverbs 14:7; Matthew 7:15
- 28 Job 15:16; Luke 18:2–4; Acts 6:11–13; Job 34:7; 1 Kings 21:13
- 29 Proverbs 26:3; Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 9:12; 2 Peter 3:3–7; Acts 13:40–41
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For even as God does not need our possessions, so do we need to offer something to God; as Solomon says: "He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord." For God, who stands in need of nothing, takes our good works to Himself for this purpose, that He may grant us a recompense of His own good …
He Himself hath said, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to God." Thou hast lent to God: put it to His account.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For "he that showeth mercy to a poor man," it is said, "lendeth to the Lord." He gave thee also an earnest, and bail, and this being God!
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)