God Speaks
Better to be poor and honest
than to be dishonest and a fool.
2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
haste makes mistakes.
3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the Lord.
4 Wealth makes many “friends”;
poverty drives them all away.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
nor will a liar escape.
6 Many seek favors from a ruler;
everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!
7 The relatives of the poor despise them;
how much more will their friends avoid them!
Though the poor plead with them,
their friends are gone.
8 To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will be destroyed.
10 It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury
or for a slave to rule over princes!
11 Sensible people control their temper;
they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
12 The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish child is a calamity to a father;
a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.
14 Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth,
but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.
15 Lazy people sleep soundly,
but idleness leaves them hungry.
16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;
despising them leads to death.
17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!
18 Discipline your children while there is hope.
Otherwise you will ruin their lives.
19 Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty.
If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.
20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
so you will be wise the rest of your life.
21 You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
22 Loyalty makes a person attractive.
It is better to be poor than dishonest.
23 Fear of the Lord leads to life,
bringing security and protection from harm.
24 Lazy people take food in their hand
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother
are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
you will turn your back on knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice;
the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29 Punishment is made for mockers,
and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: For purpose of study in comparison and contrast, Proverbs 19 is presented here with the good or godly statements in italic.
1. Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.
2. Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; haste makes mistakes.
3. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
4. Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.
5. A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.
6. Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is a friend of a person who gives gifts.
7. The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.
8. To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.
9.A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.
10. It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!
11. Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
12. The king’s anger is like the lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13. A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.
14. Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.
15. Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.
16. Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.
17. If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD–and He will repay you!
18. Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise, you will ruin their lives.
19. Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.
20. Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
21. You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.
22. Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.
23. The fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
24. Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.
25. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
26. Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.
27. If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.
28. A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29. Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.
Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 19:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. The fear of the LORD leads to life. Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
2. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 19?
Dear LORD God, teach me to properly fear You; that will lead me to eternal life, now and forever. Then I will rest content, undisturbed by whatever trouble comes my way. Help me to remember not to be angry at You, LORD, when I have ruined my life by my own foolishness. Please draw me to return to You instead and receive the mercy and grace You extend to me because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Help me to practice integrity regardless of my situation in life. I need to slow down and really consider the consequences of my words and actions, exercising discretion when and how I express my emotions, especially anger. Show me how to discipline the children in my care the right ways and to help them to live happy, responsible, meaningful, and long lives. Teach me to be wise and discerning so that I can avoid the punishment that follows foolish attitudes and behavior. I want to be a person who helps the poor, thus lending to You, LORD. This will bring me a reward and You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 19? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will love myself by gaining knowledge. (For example: How can I use my computer and/or cell phone to communicate more effectively and courteously?)
- I will not let a person’s poverty or wealth keep me from being a true friend to them.
- I will fear the LORD, which will lead me to Life. Then I will rest content, undisturbed by whatever trouble comes my way.
- I will volunteer to help with an organization that helps the poor such as Feed My Starving Children, the Salvation Army, or PADS (overnight housing for the homeless).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.