Proverbs 19 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 19 ▼
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1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool. Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark). Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
3 The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; Then his heart is resentful and rages against the LORD [for, being a fool, he blames the LORD instead of himself]. When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
4 Wealth makes many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.
6 Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man, And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts. Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone. All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
8 He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper. Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes lies will perish. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
11 Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment]. Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass. A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water]. A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.
14 House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers, But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the LORD. House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity], And the idle person will suffer hunger. Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
16 He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the LORD] keeps (guards) his own life, But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die. Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
17 He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the LORD, And the LORD will repay him for his good deed. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
18 Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction. Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control]; For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again. A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
21 Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
22 That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love, But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar. What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
24 The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish, But will not even bring it to his mouth again. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
25 Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent; Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
26 He who assaults his father and chases away his mother Is a son who brings shame and disgrace. He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach. Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline And you will stray from the words of knowledge. Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A wicked and worthless witness mocks justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity. A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of [thickheaded] fools. Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools. Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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