19:1A blameless life is far more valuable than wealth, but most people don’t act as if they believe this. Afraid of not getting everything they want, they will pay any price to increase their wealth—cheating on their taxes, stealing from stores or employers, withholding tithes, refusing to give. But when we know and love God, we realize that a lower standard of living—or even poverty—is a small price to pay for personal integrity. Do your actions show that you sacrifice your integrity to increase your wealth? What changes do you need to make in order to get your priorities straight?
Life Application Study BibleProverbsChapter 19
Proverbs 19
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1034, 1035, 1036
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
19Proverbs 19
1than to be dishonest and a fool.
2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;haste makes mistakes.
3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
4Wealth makes many “friends”;poverty drives them all away.
5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. 6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! 7The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone. 8To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed. 10 ft isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!
11Sensible people control their temper;they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
12The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar,but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish child* is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. 14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.
15Lazy people sleep soundly,but idleness leaves them hungry.
16Keep the commandments and keep your life;despising them leads to death.
17If you help the poor, you are lending to the Logp— and he will repay you!
18Discipline your children while there is hope.Otherwise you will ruin their lives.
19Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.
20Get all the advice and instruction you can,so you will be wise the rest of your life.
21You can make many plans,but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.
22Loyalty makes a person attractive.It is better to be poor than dishonest.
23Fear of the LORD leads to life,bringing security and protection from harm.
24Lazy people take food in their handbut don’t even lift it to their mouth.
25Tf you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. 26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge. 28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29Punishment is made for mockers,and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.
Textual footnotes
- 19:13 Hebrew son; also in 19:27.
Life Application Notes 7 notes
19:2We often move hastily through life, rushing headlong into the unknown. Some people marry without really getting to know the other person. Others try illicit sex or drugs without considering the consequences. Some plunge into jobs without evaluating whether or not they are suitable to that fine of work. Enthusiasm is no good without knowledge, and it will not make a bad situation better. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you're getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. Obviously you cannot tell all that the future will hold, but do your homework, ask the right questions, and be sure you are following God.
19:8Is it good to love yourself? Yes, when your soul is at stake! This proverb does not condone the self-centered person who loves and protects his or her selfish interests and will do anything to serve them. Instead, it encourages those who really care about themselves to seek wisdom.
19:16The commandments we are told to obey are those found in God’s Word, such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and other passages of instruction. To obey what God teaches in the Bible is self-preserving. To disobey is self-destructive.
19:17Here God identifies with the poor as Jesus does in Matthew 25:31-46. As our Creator, God values all of us, whether we are poor or rich. When we help the poor, we honor both the Creator and his creation. God accepts our help as if we had offered it directly to him.
19:23Those who fear the LORD receive “protection from harm” because of their healthy habits, their beneficial life-style, and sometimes through God's direct intervention. Nevertheless the fear of the LORD does not always protect us from trouble in this life: Evil things still happen to people who love God. This verse is nota universal promise but a general guideline. It describes what would happen if this world were sinless, and what will happen in the new earth, when faithful believers will be under God’s protection forever. (See the note on 3:16, 17 for more about this concept.)
19:25A great difference exists between the person who learns from criticism and the person who refuses to accept correction. How we respond to criticism determines whether or not we grow in wisdom. The next time someone criticizes you, listen carefully to all that is said. You might learn something.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1035
HOW TO SUCCEED IN GOD’S EYES Proverbs notes two significant by-products of wise living: success and good reputation. Several verses also point out what causes failure and poor reputation.
Qualities that promote success and a good reputation Godliness (righteousness). 0.0... cece eee Hating what is false..... 0.26. eee Using words with restraint; being even-tempered......... Acquiring wisdom and cherishing understanding......... Humility and fear of the LORD 2.6... 2... eee Committing all work to the LORD Willingness to confess and forsake SIN...... 0... 0.00
. 10:7; 12:3; 28:12 . 13:5 . 16:3 . 17:27, 28 . 19:8 . 22:4 . 28:13 . 10:7; 12:3; 28:12 , 25:27 . 26:24-26 . 27:2 . 28:13
Seeking honors Qualities that prevent success and cause a bad reputation Hatred, especially when masked as kindness Praising oneself
Wickedness... 0... eee ee eee Concealing sin
Other verses dealing with one’s reputation are 11:10, 16; 14:3; 19:10; 22:1; 23:17, 18; 24:13, 14.
🗺 This feature includes a map, chart or picture — view the original page image.