Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man who walks in integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.^[a]

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily^[b] sins.^[c]

3 A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.^[d]

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.^[e]

6 Many seek the favor of a ruler,^[f] and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.^[g]

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue [them with] words, [but] they are not [there].^[h]

8 The one who acquires good sense^[i] loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.^[j]

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool- how much less for a slave to rule over princes!^[k]

11 A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^[l]

12 A king's rage is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.^[m]

13 A foolish son is his father's ruin,^[n] and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.^[o]

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.^[p]

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards^[q] his ways will die.^[r]

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender.^[s]

18 Discipline your son while there is hope; don't be intent on killing him.^{[t] [u]}

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.^[v]

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise in later life.^{[w] [x]}

21 Many plans are in a man's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail.^[y]

22 A man's desire should be loyalty to the covenant; better to be a poor man than a perjurer.^[z]

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night^[aa] without danger.^[ab]

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth.^[ac]

25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.^[ad]

26 The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.^[ae]

Proverbs 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Verse 1 A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank. Verse 2 . What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet. Verse 3 . Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God. Verse 4 . Here we may see how strong is men's love of money. Verse 5 . Those that tell lies in discourse, are in a fair way to be guilty of bearing false-witness. Verse 6 . We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty. Verse 7 . Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty. Verse 8 . Those only love their souls aright that get true wisdom. Verse 9 . Lying is a damning, destroying sin. Verse 10 . A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men. Verse 11 . He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. Verse 12 . Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. Verse 13 . It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort. Verse 14 . A discreet and virtuous wife is more valuable than house and riches. Verse 15 . A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come. Verse 16 . If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner. Verse 17 . God has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom. Verse 18 . When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves. Verse 19 . The spared and spoiled child is likely to become a man of great wrath. Verse 20 . Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young. Verse 21 . What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God's holy will? Verse 22 . It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it. Verse 23 . Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness. Verse 24 . Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves. Verse 25 . A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding. Verse 26 . The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace. Verse 27 . It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind. Verse 28 . Those are the worst of sinners, who are glad of an opportunity to sin. Verse 29 . The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 10:9; 15:16; 28:6; Ps 37:16
• [b]. Lit who is hasty with feet
• [c]. Pr 21:5; 28:20; 29:20
• [d]. Pr 14:20; 19:6
• [e]. Pr 19:9; 21:28
• [f]. Pr 29:26
• [g]. Pr 14:20; 17:8; 19:4
• [h]. Hb uncertain in this line
• [i]. Lit acquires a heart
• [j]. Pr 19:5; 21:28
• [k]. Pr 26:1
• [l]. Pr 11:13; 17:9
• [m]. Pr 20:2; 28:15
• [n]. Pr 10:1; 17:25; 28:7
• [o]. Pr 27:15
• [p]. Pr 10:4; 13:4; 21:25
• [q]. Or despises, or treats lightly
• [r]. Pr 3:1-2; 4:4; 13:13
• [s]. Lit to him
• [t]. Lit don't lift up your soul to his death
• [u]. Pr 23:13-14; 29:17
• [v]. Pr 22:24-25; 29:22
• [w]. Lit in your end
• [x]. Pr 12:1; 15:5,31-32
• [y]. Pr 16:1,9,33; 21:31
• [z]. Pr 19:1; 28:6
• [aa]. Lit will spend the night satisfied
• [ab]. Pr 14:26-27
• [ac]. Pr 12:27; 26:14-15
• [ad]. Pr 21:11
• [ae]. Pr 10:13; 26:3

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.