Proverbs 19

1 It is better to be poor and honest than to be foolish and tell lies.

2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good. If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.

3 People's own foolishness ruins their lives, but in their minds they blame the Lord.

4 Wealthy people are always finding more friends, but the poor lose all theirs.

5 A witness who lies will not go free; liars will never escape.

6 Many people want to please a leader, and everyone is friends with those who give gifts.

7 Poor people's relatives avoid them; even their friends stay far away. They run after them, begging, but they are gone.

8 Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed.

9 A witness who lies will not go free, liars will die.

10 A fool should not live in luxury. A slave should not rule over princes.

11 Smart people are patient; they will be honored if they ignore insults.

12 An angry king is like a roaring lion, but his kindness is like the dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son will ruin his father, and a quarreling wife is like dripping water.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a wise wife is a gift from the Lord.

15 Lazy people sleep a lot, and idle people will go hungry.

16 Those who obey the commands protect themselves, but those who are careless will die.

17 Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord; he will reward you for what you have done.

18 Correct your children while there is still hope; do not let them destroy themselves.

19 People with quick tempers will have to pay for it. If you help them out once, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise.

21 People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord's plan will happen.

22 People want others to be loyal, so it is better to be poor than to be a liar.

23 Those who respect the Lord will live and be satisfied, unbothered by trouble.

24 Though the lazy person puts his hand in the dish, he won't lift the food to his mouth.

25 Whip those who make fun of wisdom, and perhaps foolish people will gain some wisdom. Correct those with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.

26 A son who robs his father and sends away his mother brings shame and disgrace on himself.

27 Don't stop listening to correction, my child, or you will forget what you have already learned.

28 An evil witness makes fun of fairness, and wicked people love what is evil.

29 People who make fun of wisdom will be punished, and the backs of foolish people will be beaten.

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Proverbs 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Verse 1 A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank. Verse 2 . What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet. Verse 3 . Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God. Verse 4 . Here we may see how strong is men's love of money. Verse 5 . Those that tell lies in discourse, are in a fair way to be guilty of bearing false-witness. Verse 6 . We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty. Verse 7 . Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty. Verse 8 . Those only love their souls aright that get true wisdom. Verse 9 . Lying is a damning, destroying sin. Verse 10 . A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men. Verse 11 . He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. Verse 12 . Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. Verse 13 . It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort. Verse 14 . A discreet and virtuous wife is more valuable than house and riches. Verse 15 . A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come. Verse 16 . If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner. Verse 17 . God has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom. Verse 18 . When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves. Verse 19 . The spared and spoiled child is likely to become a man of great wrath. Verse 20 . Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young. Verse 21 . What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God's holy will? Verse 22 . It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it. Verse 23 . Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness. Verse 24 . Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves. Verse 25 . A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding. Verse 26 . The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace. Verse 27 . It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind. Verse 28 . Those are the worst of sinners, who are glad of an opportunity to sin. Verse 29 . The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.