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Proverbs 19 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

The Fear of the LORD Leads to Life
Pro 19:1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Pro 19:2Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.
Pro 19:3The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.
Pro 19:4Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
Pro 19:5A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.
Pro 19:6Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
Pro 19:7All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
Pro 19:8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
Pro 19:9A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.
Pro 19:10Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.
Pro 19:11The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Pro 19:12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
Pro 19:13A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
Pro 19:14Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Pro 19:15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.
Pro 19:16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless[fn] of his ways will die.
Pro 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.
Pro 19:18Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.[fn]
Pro 19:19A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Pro 19:20Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
Pro 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.
Pro 19:22What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
Pro 19:23The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
Pro 19:24A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,[fn]
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Pro 19:25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
Pro 19:26He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
Pro 19:27Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Pro 19:28A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Pro 19:29Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.
NKJV Footnotes
Literally despises, figurative of recklessness or carelessness
Literally to put him to death; a Jewish tradition reads on his crying.
Septuagint and Syriac read bosom; Targum and Vulgate read armpit.
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Proverbs Chapter 19 — Additional Translations: