19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity 1
than one who is perverse in his speech 2 and is a fool. 3
19:2 It is dangerous 4 to have zeal 5 without knowledge,
and the one who acts hastily 6 makes poor choices. 7
19:3 A person’s folly 8 subverts 9 his way,
and 10 his heart rages 11 against the Lord.
19:4 Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is separated 12 from his friend. 13
19:5 A false witness 14 will not go unpunished,
and the one who spouts out 15 lies will not escape punishment. 16
19:6 Many people entreat the favor 17 of a generous person, 18
and everyone is the friend 19 of the person who gives gifts. 20
19:7 All the relatives 21 of a poor person hate him; 22
how much more do his friends avoid him –
he pursues them 23 with words, but they do not respond. 24
19:8 The one who acquires wisdom 25 loves himself; 26
the one who preserves understanding will prosper. 27
19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and the one who spouts out 28 lies will perish. 29
19:10 Luxury is not appropriate 30 for a fool; 31
how much less for a servant to rule over princes! 32
19:11 A person’s wisdom 33 makes him slow to anger, 34
and it is his glory 35 to overlook 36 an offense.
19:12 A king’s wrath is like 37 the roar of a lion, 38
but his favor is like dew on the grass. 39
19:13 A foolish child 40 is the ruin of his father,
and a contentious wife 41 is like 42 a constant dripping. 43
19:14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents, 44
but a prudent wife 45 is from the Lord.
19:15 Laziness brings on 46 a deep sleep, 47
and the idle person 48 will go hungry. 49
19:16 The one who obeys commandments guards 50 his life;
the one who despises his ways 51 will die. 52