Proverbs

CHAPTER 19

than rich and crooked in one’s ways.^a

and whoever acts hastily, blunders.^*

in their hearts they rage against the LORD.^*

but the poor are left friendless.^b

and whoever utters lies will not escape.^{* c}

everybody is a friend of a gift giver.

how much more do their friends shun them!^*

those who preserve understanding will find success.^*

and whoever utters lies will perish.

much less should a slave rule over princes.

and an honor to overlook an offense.^*

but his favor, like dew on the grass.^{* d}

and a quarrelsome wife is water constantly dripping.^*

but a prudent wife is from the LORD.^f

and the sluggard goes hungry.^g

but those who despise these ways will die.^h

who will pay back the sum in full.

but do not be intent on his death.^{* j}

after one rescue, you will have it to do again.

that you may eventually become wise.

but it is the decision of the LORD that endures.^k

rather be poor than a liar.^*

one eats and sleeps free from any harm.

not even lifting it to the mouth.^l

rebuke the intelligent and they gain knowledge.^m

is a shameless and disgraceful child.^{* n}

start straying from words of knowledge.^*

and the mouth of the wicked pours out iniquity.

and blows for the backs of fools.^o

* [19:2] When not guided by wisdom, appetite—or desire—is not good. “Running feet” (so the Hebrew) miss the mark, i.e., do not reach their destination.

* [19:3] One’s own folly destroys one’s life. It is an indication of that folly that one blames God rather than oneself.

* [19:5] The punishment fits the crime: those who abuse the legal system will be punished by the same system. They will not be acquitted.

* [19:7] Closely related to vv. 4 and 6. An observation, not without sympathy, on the social isolation of poor people.

* [19:8] Wisdom benefits the one who practices it.

* [19:11] The paradox is that one obtains one thing by giving up another.

* [19:12] An observation on the exercise of royal power. Both images suggest royal attitudes are beyond human control. Colon A is a variant of 20:2a and colon B of 16:15b.

* [19:13] One of many sayings about domestic happiness. The perspective is male; the two greatest pains to a father is a malicious son and an unsuitable wife. The immediately following saying is on the noble wife, perhaps to make a positive statement about women.

* [19:18] The pain of disciplining the young cannot be compared with the danger no discipline may bring. The chief reason for disciplining the young is their capacity to change; excluded thereby are revenge and punishment.

* [19:22] The proverb has been read in two ways: (1) “Desire (greed) is a shame to a person,” which assumes the rare Hebrew word for “shame” is being used; (2) “What is desired in a person is fidelity.” The second interpretation is preferable. The context may be the court: better to forego money (a bribe) than perjure oneself.

* [19:26] Children who disgrace the family equivalently plunder their father’s wealth and expel their mother from the home.

* [19:27] The meaning was disputed even in antiquity. The interpretation that most respects the syntax is to take it as ironic advice as in 22:6: to stop (listening) is to go (wandering).

a. [19:1] Prv 28:6.

b. [19:4] Prv 14:20; Sir 13:20–23.

c. [19:5] Dt 19:16–20; Dn 13:61.

d. [19:12] Prv 20:2.

e. [19:13] Prv 10:1; 17:25.

f. [19:14] Prv 18:22.

g. [19:15] Prv 6:9–10.

h. [19:16] Prv 13:13; 16:17.

i. [19:17] Prv 14:21; 22:9; 28:27.

j. [19:18] Prv 13:24; 23:13–14.

k. [19:21] Prv 16:9.

l. [19:24] Prv 26:15.

m. [19:25] Prv 17:10; 21:11.

n. [19:26] Sir 3:16.

o. [19:29] Prv 26:3.