Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 07

Proverbs 19

¹ Better to be a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one with perverse lips who is a fool.
² Zeal without knowledge is certainly not good,
and a person who acts hastily sins. ^[1]
3 A person’s own foolishness undermines his way,
but his heart rages against the Lord.
⁴ Wealth adds many friends,
but a poor person is deserted by his friend.
⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished.
He breathes lies and will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the goodwill of a ruler,
and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.
⁷ A poor person’s brothers all hate him.
Even his friends keep their distance from him!
Though he pursues them with words, they are not there.
⁸ A person who acquires intelligence ^[2] loves his life. ^[3]
A person who guards understanding finds a good thing.
⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished.
He breathes lies, and he will perish.
¹⁰ A life of luxury is not appropriate for a fool.
How much less appropriate for a slave to rule over princes.
¹¹ Good sense makes a person slow to anger,
and it is to his credit when he overlooks an offense.
¹² The king’s anger is like a lion’s growl,
but his favor is refreshing like dew on the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is a disaster to his father,
and a nagging wife is like constantly dripping water.
¹⁴ Home and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
¹⁵ Laziness makes a person fall into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will go hungry.
¹⁶ A person who keeps a command preserves his life.
One who despises his ways will die.
¹⁷ A person who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord.
He will repay him in full.
¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope.
Do not make yourself responsible for his death.
¹⁹ Someone who has a lot of anger pays the penalty.
If you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept discipline,
so that you will be wise in the future.
²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.
²² A desirable trait in a person is loyalty. ^[4]
It is better to be poor than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life.
One who has it rests content.
He will not be disturbed by trouble.
²⁴ A lazy person buries his hand in the dish,
but he does not even bring the food up to his mouth.
²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and an undisciplined ^[5] person may learn caution.
Warn a person with understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ A son who attacks his father and chases away his mother
brings shame and disgrace.
²⁷ If you stop listening to discipline, my son,
you will stray from the sayings that give knowledge.
²⁸ A malicious witness mocks justice,
and the mouth of the wicked swallows evil.
²⁹ Punishments have been prepared for scoffers
and beatings for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 20

¹ Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is intoxicated by them is not wise.
² The king’s rage is like a lion’s growl.
Whoever intrudes on him endangers his life.
³ Avoiding strife brings honor to a man,
but every stubborn fool is always fighting.
⁴ A lazy person fails to plow when it is the season for planting. ^[6]
He expects something in the harvest, but nothing will be there.
⁵ The intentions in a person’s heart are deep water,
but a person with understanding can draw them out.
⁶ Many people claim to be loyal, ^[7]
but who can find a trustworthy man?
⁷ A righteous person walks in his integrity.
How blessed are his children after him!
⁸ When a king sits on his throne as judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
⁹ Who can say, “I have purified my heart.
I am cleansed from my sinfulness”?
¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
both of them are disgusting to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a youth makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
¹² An ear that hears and an eye that sees—
the Lord has made both of them.
¹³ Do not love sleep, or you will become poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have enough to eat.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 19:2 Or a person who runs too quickly loses his way
2. Proverbs 19:8 Literally heart
3. Proverbs 19:8 Or his soul
4. Proverbs 19:22 Or what a person desires is loyalty. The word translated loyalty often refers to mercy.
5. Proverbs 19:25 Or inexperienced
6. Proverbs 20:4 Literally at the start of the rainy season
7. Proverbs 20:6 The word translated loyal often means merciful. The line is difficult.