Proverbs 19 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 19 ▼
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JPS Tanakh 1917
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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. 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, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 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 perverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against the LORD. 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 addeth many friends; But as for the poor, his friend separateth himself from him. 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 shall not be unpunished; And he that breatheth forth lies shall 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 entreat the favour of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth 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 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. 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 that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul; He that keepeth understanding shall find good. 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 shall not be unpunished; And he that breatheth forth lies shall 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 seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have 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 It is the discretion of a man to be slow to anger, And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 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 is as the roaring of a lion; But his favour is as dew upon 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 son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 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 riches are the inheritance of fathers; But a prudent wife is 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 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall 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 that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that despiseth His ways shall 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 that is gracious unto the poor lendeth unto the LORD; And his good deed will He repay unto him. 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 Chasten thy son, for there is hope; But set not thy heart on 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 wrath shall suffer punishment; For if thou interpose, thou wilt add thereto. 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 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 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 There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 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 The lust of a man is his shame; And a poor man is better than a 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 tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied, He shall not be visited with 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 sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it back to his mouth. 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 When thou smitest a scorner, the simple will become prudent; And when one that hath understanding is reproved, he will understand knowledge. 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 A son that dealeth shamefully and reproachfully Will despoil his father, and chase away his mother. 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, my son, to hear the instruction That causeth to err 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 An ungodly witness mocketh at right; And the mouth of the wicked devoureth 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 scorners, And stripes for the back of 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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