Proverbs — Chapter 19
Better a pauper who lives blamelesslyThan one who speaks perversely and is a dullard.
A person without knowledge is surely not good;One who moves hurriedly blunders.
Mortals’ folly subverts their way,And their hearts rage against GOD.
Wealth makes many friends,But a pauper is left friendless.
A false witness will not go unpunished;One who testifies lies will not escape.
Many court the favor of a noble,And all are the friends of a man who dispenses gifts.
The poor are despised even by their kin;How much more are they shunned by their friends!One who pursues words—they are of no avail.aOne who pursues words—they are of no avail Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Those who acquire wisdom are their own best friend;They preserve understanding and attain happiness.
A false witness will not go unpunished;One who testifies falsely is doomed.
Luxury is not fitting for a dullard,Much less that a servant rule over princes.
People show intelligence by their forbearance;It is their glory when they overlook an offense.
The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion;His favor is like dew upon the grass.
A stupid son is a calamity to his father;The nagging of a wife is like the endless dripping of water.
Property and riches are bequeathed by fathers,But an efficientbefficient Or “astute.” wife comes from GOD.
Laziness induces sleep,And a negligent person will go hungry.
Those who have regard for their lives pay regard to commandments;Those who are heedless of their ways will die.
Those who are generous to the poor make a loan to GOD—They will receive their due.
Discipline your son while there is still hope,AndcAnd Or “But.” do not set your heart on his destruction.dset your heart on his destruction Or “pay attention to his moaning.”
A hot-tempered man incurs punishment;If you try to save him you will only make it worse.eIf you try to save him you will only make it worse Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Listen to advice and accept disciplineIn order that you may be wise in the end.
Many designs are in a person’s mind,But it is GOD’s plan that is accomplished.
Greed is a reproach to a man;fGreed is a reproach to a man Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Better be poor than a deceitful man.
One who fears GOD earns life,And shall abide in contentment,gAnd shall abide in contentment Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Free from misfortune.
A sluggard buries a hand in the bowl,And will not even bring it to the mouth.
Beat scoffers and the simple will become clever;Reprove the intelligent and they gain knowledge.
A son who causes shame and disgracePlunders his father, puts his mother to flight.
My son, cease to stray from words of knowledgeAnd receive discipline.
A malicious witness scoffs at justice,And the speech of the wicked conceals mischief.
Punishments are in store for scoffersAnd blows for the backs of dullards.
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Path to Wisdom
Dhammapada 20:282
“Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom wanes.”
Analects 2:11
“If you study the past and use it to understand the present, you are worthy of being a teacher.”
Tao Te Ching 33
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
Quran 39:9
“Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
Good vs Evil / Light vs Darkness
Yasna 30:3
“Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action.”
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Dhammapada 1:1-2
“Mind is the forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow.”
Bhagavad Gita 16:21
“There are three gates to self-destructive hell: lust, anger, and greed. Therefore, one must learn to give these up.”