Proverbs 19:1-29

Better a poor person who lives with integrity  than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. Even zeal is not good without knowledge,  and the one who acts hastily   sins.  A person’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the  Lord.  Wealth attracts many friends,  but a poor person is separated from his friend. A false witness will not go unpunished,  and one who utters lies will not escape.  Many seek a ruler’s favor,  and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.  All the brothers of a poor person hate him;  how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words,  but they are not there.  The one who acquires good sense  loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.  A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.  Luxury is not appropriate for a fool   —  how much less for a slave to rule over princes!  A person’s insight gives him patience,  and his virtue is to overlook an offense.  A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,  but his favor is like dew on the grass.  A foolish son is his father’s ruin,  and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.  A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,  but a prudent wife is from the  Lord. Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.  The one who keeps commands preserves himself;  one who disregards  his ways will die.  Kindness to the poor is a loan to the  Lord,  and he will give a reward to the lender.  , Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.  , A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.  Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.  , Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the  Lord’s decree will prevail.  What is desirable in a person is his fidelity; better to be a poor person than a liar.  The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night  without danger.  The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!  Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;  rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.  The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son. If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.  Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.