Integrity and Honesty
Study note
These proverbs teach that it is better to be poor with integrity than to be a liar. Wealth attracts many friends, but poverty drives them away. False witnesses and liars will not escape punishment. These sayings honestly describe how the world works while still teaching what is right.
1 Being poor and living with honesty is a far better life than being a fool who lies every time they speak. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Being eager without knowledge is not good. Moving too fast makes you miss the mark. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3 People ruin their own lives through their own bad decisions, and then they turn around and shake their fist at God. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4 Wealth is a magnet for new friends, but when you are poor, even the friends you had walk away from you. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5 Someone who lies under oath will face consequences. A person who tells lies will not get away with it. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Everyone tries to get close to a generous person. Everyone wants to be friends with someone who gives good gifts. Many will entreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 When a person is poor, even their own family avoids them. Their friends pull away even faster. They reach out, but everyone is already gone. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8 Getting wisdom is the best thing you can do for yourself. Holding on to understanding leads you to the good life. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 A liar under oath will face punishment. Someone who keeps breathing out lies will be destroyed. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Patience, Kindness, and the Lord's Plan
Study note
A person's wisdom gives them patience, and it is to their glory to overlook an offense. A foolish child brings disaster, and a quarrelsome spouse is like a constant dripping leak. A wise spouse is a gift from the Lord. The powerful proverb in verse 17 teaches that being kind to the poor is like lending to God Himself, who will repay the kindness.
10 A life of luxury makes no sense for a fool, and it makes even less sense for a servant to boss around leaders. Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 Wisdom gives you the patience to take a deep breath before you react. Choosing to let an offense go shows real character. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 A king's anger is as scary as a lion's roar. But his kindness is as gentle as dew on the morning grass. The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish child is like a wrecking ball to their father. A nagging wife is as annoying as a faucet that drips all day and night. A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 You can inherit a house and money from your parents, but a wife who is truly wise is a gift only the Lord can give. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Being lazy puts you into a deep sleep, and if you refuse to work, your stomach will be growling. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 Following God's commands protects your life, but being careless about how you live is a path toward death. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17 Every time you are kind to someone poor, you are truly lending to the Lord. He always pays back what he owes. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Discipline, Anger, and God's Purposes
Study note
Discipline your children while there is still hope. A hot-tempered person will keep paying penalties. Listen to advice and accept correction so you may be wise later in life. A person may have many plans, but the Lord's purpose is what will stand. The fear of the Lord leads to life and satisfaction.
18 Correct your children while you still have the chance. But do not go so far that you become part of the problem. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19 If someone has a raging temper, let them face the consequences. Bailing them out means you will have to do it all over again. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20 Be open to advice and willing to be taught, and by the end of your life you will be truly wise. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 Your mind might be overflowing with ideas and plans, but in the end, what the Lord has decided is what will stand. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
22 The thing people value most in a person is loyalty. Being poor and honest beats being rich and fake. The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 Honoring the Lord is the path to a full, satisfying life. You will rest easy and trouble will not touch you. The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Laziness, Mockery, and Obedience
Study note
The humorous image of a lazy person burying their hand in a dish and not even bringing it back to their mouth illustrates extreme laziness. Punishing a mocker teaches the inexperienced to be careful. A child who mistreats their parents brings shame and disgrace.
24 Some people are so lazy they stick their hand in the food bowl. They can't even bring themselves to lift it back up to their mouth. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 When a mocker faces consequences, people who are watching learn something. When a wise person receives correction, they gain even deeper knowledge. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 A child who hurts their father and chases away their mother brings nothing but shame. He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27 My child, if you stop taking correction, you will drift. You will leave behind all that is worth knowing. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness treats justice like a joke, and the wicked gobble up evil like it is their favorite meal. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 Punishment is ready and waiting for mockers. Painful blows are ready for the backs of fools. Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.