Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 19 continues the antithetic-Solomonic-proverbs with recurring-focus on poverty, friendship, and parental-discipline. Verse 17 — 'whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD' — is one of the strongest theological statements of charity-as-divine-loan.
Notable Variants
19:17 'whoever is generous to the poor LENDS to the LORD' — charity-as-divine-loan; 19:21 'many plans in a man's heart, but it is the purpose of the LORD that stands'; 19:14 'a prudent wife is from the LORD.'
Structural Notes
MT Prov 19 = LXX Prov 19. 29 verses.
Better a poor person who walks in integrity than one who has twisted speech and is a fool.
'Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool' tracks MT. POOR-WITH-INTEGRITY better.
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever rushes ahead misses the mark.
'Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way' tracks MT.
A person's own foolishness ruins his path, and then his heart rages against the LORD.
'When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD' tracks MT. HEART-RAGES-AGAINST-LORD-AFTER-OWN-FOLLY — blame-shifting diagnosis.
Wealth adds many friends, but the poor person is separated from his companion.
'Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend' tracks MT.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever breathes out lies will not escape.
'A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape' tracks MT. // v. 9, Prov 21:28.
Many seek the favor of a generous person, and everyone is a friend to the one who gives gifts.
'Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts' tracks MT.
All the brothers of a poor person despise him — how much more do his friends keep their distance! He chases them with pleas, but they are gone.
'All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him!' tracks MT.
Whoever acquires sense loves his own life; whoever guards understanding will find good.
'Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good' tracks MT.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever breathes out lies will perish.
'A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish' tracks MT. // v. 5 repeat-for-emphasis.
Luxury does not suit a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes.
'It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes' tracks MT.
A person's insight makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
'Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense' tracks MT. OVERLOOK-AN-OFFENSE-AS-GLORY. Matthew 18:21–22 (forgive seventy times seven) extends.
A king's fury is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
'A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass' tracks MT.
A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a constant dripping.
'A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain' tracks MT. CONTINUAL-DRIPPING — the wearing-down-effect metaphor.
House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
'House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD' tracks MT. PRUDENT-WIFE FROM-LORD — marriage as divine-gift.
Laziness casts a person into a deep sleep, and an idle appetite goes hungry.
'Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger' tracks MT.
Whoever keeps a command guards his own life, but whoever despises his ways will die.
'Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die' tracks MT.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
'Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed' tracks MT. GENEROUS-TO-POOR LENDS-TO-LORD. One of Scripture's most-remarkable theological claims: charity-as-divine-loan (God-as-borrower). Matthew 25:40 ('as you did it to one of the least of these … you did it to me') Christologically-identifies: giving-to-the-poor IS giving-to-Christ. Hebrews 6:10 ('God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown') echoes.
Discipline your son while there is still hope, but do not set your heart on destroying him.
'Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death' tracks MT. Parental-discipline with hope-of-change.
A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
'A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again' tracks MT.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, so that you will be wise in the end.
'Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future' tracks MT.
Many plans fill a person's heart, but the counsel of the LORD — that will stand.
'Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand' tracks MT. LORD'S-PURPOSE-STANDS. // Prov 16:9. Isaiah 14:24 ('as I have planned, so shall it be') extends.
What is desirable in a person is his faithful love, and a poor person is better than a liar.
'What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar' tracks MT.
The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever has it rests satisfied, untouched by harm.
'The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm' tracks MT.
The lazy person buries his hand in the dish but will not even bring it back to his mouth.
'The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth' tracks MT. SLUGGARD-HAND-IN-DISH — comic-extreme laziness picture (// Prov 26:15).
Strike a scoffer and the naive learns caution; correct the discerning and he gains knowledge.
'Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge' tracks MT.
A son who ruins his father and drives out his mother is a source of shame and disgrace.
'He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach' tracks MT.
Stop listening, my son, to instruction that leads you away from words of knowledge.
'Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge' tracks MT.
A worthless witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows down wrongdoing.
'A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity' tracks MT.
Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
'Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools' tracks MT.