Proverbs 19: Integrity, the Poor, and God's Counsel
Solomon esteems poverty with integrity, kindness to the poor as lending to Yahweh, and his counsel above all human plans.
Proverbs 19 (WEB)
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 19 (KJV)
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 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 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Proverbs 19 (ASV)
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of Jehovahtendethto life; And hethat hath itshall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction Onlyto err from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
Summary
This chapter contrasts integrity with folly and wealth with poverty. Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a perverse fool, and a poor man is better than a liar. Solomon observes that wealth attracts friends while the poor are abandoned even by relatives, yet he insists that having pity on the poor is lending to Yahweh, who will repay. Human foolishness ruins a person's way while his heart rages against God, but the discreet are slow to anger and glory in overlooking offenses. Discipline, counsel, and instruction recur as paths to wisdom for the latter end. The king's wrath roars like a lion, and his favor falls like dew. At the heart stands the great truth that many plans fill a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail, and the fear of Yahweh leads to life and contentment.
Main Characters
- The poor — The lowly one shunned by friends yet honored when he walks in integrity and defended by Yahweh.
- The fool — Whose own foolishness ruins his way while his heart rages against Yahweh.
- The king — Whose wrath roars like a lion and whose favor is like refreshing dew on the grass.
- Yahweh — The God whose counsel prevails over all human plans and who repays kindness shown to the poor.
Key Verse
Proverbs 19:21 (WEB)
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
Lessons Learned
- Integrity in poverty is worth more than dishonest gain or perverse speech.
- Caring for the poor is treated by God as a loan to himself that he repays.
- Human beings may make many plans, but God's purpose always prevails.
- Receiving counsel and instruction is the path to lasting wisdom and life.
- Integrity outweighs wealth. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1, WEB).
- Patience overlooks offense. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11, WEB).
- Kindness to the poor is lent to God. He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh, and he will reward him for it (Proverbs 19:17, WEB).
- Teachable hearts grow wise. Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end (Proverbs 19:20, WEB).
- God's counsel prevails over our plans. There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail in the end (Proverbs 19:21, WEB).
- The fear of Yahweh leads to life. The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble (Proverbs 19:23, WEB).
- Why is the poor person who walks in integrity better than a perverse fool (Proverbs 19:1)?
- What does it mean that having pity on the poor is lending to Yahweh (Proverbs 19:17)?
- How does the truth that Yahweh's counsel will prevail reshape the way we make plans (Proverbs 19:21)?
- What does it look like in your life to listen to counsel so you may be wise in your latter end (Proverbs 19:20)?
- How does the fear of Yahweh lead to life and contentment in your own experience (Proverbs 19:23)?
- Character matters more than circumstances. A poor person of integrity has something a wealthy fool lacks, for honesty and uprightness are of greater worth than dishonest gain. Solomon repeatedly elevates integrity above riches, urging us to prize who we are over what we have.
- When we show compassion to the poor, God counts it as a loan made to himself and pledges to repay it. This stunning truth dignifies the needy as bearing God's concern and assures the generous that their kindness is never wasted but seen and rewarded by Yahweh.
- However carefully we scheme, God's purpose ultimately stands. This does not forbid planning, but it humbles us to hold our plans loosely and submit them to God. It also comforts us, for the One whose counsel prevails is wise, good, and faithful.
- Personal: invite members to identify whose counsel they regularly seek and heed. Encourage them to surround themselves with wise voices and to remain teachable, since wisdom in the latter end grows from a lifetime of receiving instruction.
- Personal: ask members how reverence for God has brought them peace and contentment. Encourage them to share how the fear of Yahweh, far from joyless dread, leads to rest and security in his care.