Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty with one’s feet and miss the way.

3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward him.

18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.

22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

Around Proverbs 19

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

About Proverbs as a whole · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this book is about

Two voices call from the high places of a city, and both want the same passers-by. “Wisdom has built her house”, the ninth chapter says. She has set her table and sent out her maidens, and she calls the simple to leave their simple ways. Across the street, a loud and undisciplined woman, Folly, sits at her door and calls the very same crowd.

That picture captures the whole book. Proverbs gathers short sayings and longer poems about living wisely. Its starting point is that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” It contrasts the wise and the foolish in speech, work, money, friendship, marriage and the raising of children.

In the opening chapters wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out in the streets. The book ends with a poem in praise of a capable wife.

Background

Most of the sayings are linked with Solomon. Others are credited to Agur, to King Lemuel and to unnamed wise teachers, and one section was copied by officials of King Hezekiah about two centuries after Solomon (25:1). Similar collections of wisdom are known from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

How Christians read it

A proverb states what is generally true, not a guarantee for every case. Reading the sayings as promises leads to disappointment, and the books of Job and Ecclesiastes show the exceptions. The New Testament speaks of Christ as the wisdom of God, and many Christians read the figure of wisdom in chapter 8 in that light.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes