Proverbs 19 JPS Tanakh (1917)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Numbers like (22-2) in the text give the Hebrew verse numbering where it differs.
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity than he that is perverse in his lips and a fool at the same time.
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
2 It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty with one’s feet and miss the way.
3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way; and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth addeth many friends; but as for the poor, his friend separateth himself from him.
4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that breatheth forth lies shall not escape.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Many will entreat the favour of the liberal man; and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He that pursueth words, they turn against him.
7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that breatheth forth lies shall perish.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Luxury is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 It is the discretion of a man to be slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
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 calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers; but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; but he that despiseth His ways shall die.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 He that is gracious unto the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and his good deed will He repay unto him.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
18 Chasten thy son, for there is hope; but set not thy heart on his destruction.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou interpose, thou wilt add thereto.
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; but the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 The lust of a man is his shame; and a poor man is better than a liar.
22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life; and he that hath it shall abide satisfied, he shall not be visited with evil.
23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it back to his mouth.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 When thou smitest a scorner, the simple will become prudent; and when one that hath understanding is reproved, he will understand knowledge.
25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 A son that dealeth shamefully and reproachfully will despoil his father, and chase away his mother.
26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 An ungodly witness mocketh at right; and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 28:6; Proverbs 16:8; Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 19:22; Proverbs 14:2
- 2 Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 29:20; Philippians 1:9; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Isaiah 28:16
- 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)