Proverbs 19-20
1599 Geneva Bible
19 1 Better (A)is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that abuseth his lips, and is a fool.
2 For without knowledge the mind is not good, and he that hasteth with his feet, sinneth.
3 The foolishness of a man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4 Riches gather many friends: but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5 (B)A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall not escape.
6 Many reverence the face of the prince, and every man is friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more will his friends depart far from him? though he be instant [a]with words, yet they will not.
8 He that possesseth understanding, [b]loveth his own soul, and keepeth wisdom to find goodness.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
10 [c]Pleasure is not comely for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of man deferreth his anger: and his glory is [d]to pass by an offence.
12 (C)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion: but his favor is like the dew upon the grass.
13 (D)A foolish son is the calamity of his father, (E)and the contentions of a wife are like a continual [e]dropping.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers: but a (F)prudent wife cometh of the Lord.
15 Slothfulness causeth to fall asleep, and a deceitful person shall be affamished.
16 He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that despiseth his ways, shall die.
17 He that hath mercy upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and the Lord will recompense him that which he hath given.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his murmuring.
19 A man of much anger shall suffer punishment, and though thou [f]deliver him, yet will his anger come again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 Many devices are in a [g]man’s heart: but the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
22 That that is to be desired of a man, is his [h]goodness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leadeth to life: and he that is filled therewith, shall continue, and shall not be visited with evil.
24 (G)The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not put it to his mouth again.
25 (H)Smite a scorner, and the [i]foolish will beware: and reprove the prudent, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that destroyeth his father, or chaseth away his mother, is a lewd and shameful child.
27 My son, hear no more the instruction, that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28 A wicked witness mocketh at judgment, and the mouth of the wicked [j]swalloweth up iniquity.
29 But judgments are prepared for the scorners, and stripes for the back of the fools.
20 1 Wine [k]is a mocker, and strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby, is not wise.
2 (I)The fear of the King is like the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him unto anger [l]sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is a man’s honor to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The slothful will not plow, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in summer, but have nothing.
5 The counsel in the heart of [m]man is like deep waters: but a man that hath understanding, will draw it out.
6 Many men will boast every one of his own goodness: but who can find a faithful man?
7 He that walketh in his integrity, is just, and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment, [n]chaseth away all evil with his eyes.
9 (J)Who can say, I have made mine heart clean, I am clean from my sin?
10 Divers [o]weights, and divers measures, both [p]these are even abomination unto the Lord.
11 A child also is known by his doings, whether his word be pure and right.
12 The Lord hath made both these, even the ear to hear, and the eye to see.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come unto poverty: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (K)Take his [q]garment, that is surety for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man: but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Establish thy thoughts by counsel; and by counsel make war.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discovereth (L)secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 (M)He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An heritage is hastily gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, (N)I will recompense evil, but wait upon the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 (O)Diverse weights are an abomination unto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 (P)The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a destruction for a man to [r]devour that which is sanctified, and after the vows to inquire.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the [s]wheel to turn over them.
27 The [t]light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 (Q)Mercy and truth preserve the king: for his throne shall be established with mercy.
29 The beauty of young men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 [u]The blueness of the wound serveth to purge the evil, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:7 To have comfort of them.
- Proverbs 19:8 He that is upright in judgment findeth favor of God.
- Proverbs 19:10 The free use of things are not to be permitted to him that cannot use them aright.
- Proverbs 19:11 That is, to cover it by charity, and to do therein as may most serve to God’s glory.
- Proverbs 19:13 As rain that droppeth and rotteth the house.
- Proverbs 19:19 Though for a time he give place to counsel, yet soon after will he give place to his raging affections.
- Proverbs 19:21 Man’s device shall not have success, except God govern it, whose purpose is unchangeable.
- Proverbs 19:22 That is, that he be honest: for the poor man that is honest, is to be esteemed above the rich which is not virtuous.
- Proverbs 19:25 That is, the simple and ignorant men learn, when they see the wicked punished.
- Proverbs 19:28 Taketh a pleasure and delight therein, as gluttons and drunkards in delicate meats and drinks.
- Proverbs 20:1 By wine here is meant him that is given to wine, and so by strong drink.
- Proverbs 20:2 Putteth his life in danger.
- Proverbs 20:5 It is hard to find out: for it is as deep waters, whose bottom cannot be found: yet the wise man will know a man either by his words or manners.
- Proverbs 20:8 Where righteous judgment is executed, there sin ceaseth, and vice dare not appear.
- Proverbs 20:10 Hebrew, stone and stone, ephah and ephah.
- Proverbs 20:10 Read Prov. 16:11.
- Proverbs 20:16 Teach him wit, that he cast not himself rashly into danger.
- Proverbs 20:25 That is, to apply it, or take it to his own use, which was appointed to God’s, and then inquire how they may be exempted from the fault.
- Proverbs 20:26 Which was a kind of punishment then used.
- Proverbs 20:27 The word of God giveth life unto man, and causeth us to see and try the secret of our dark hearts, Heb. 4:12.
- Proverbs 20:30 Sharp punishment that pierceth even the inward parts, is profitable for the wicked, to bring them to amendment.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Bible Gateway Recommends
