Proverbs
Chapter 19
A poor man who lives honestly is better than a fool who lies.
It’s bad for men not to reflect, and acting too quickly can lead them astray.
A man damages his chances through his own foolishness, but it is against the Lord that his heart feels angered.
Wealth increases friends, but the poor man loses his only friend.
The false witness won’t go unpunished; the liar won’t escape.
Many flatter the nobleman; the whole world is friendly to the rich.
A poor man is hated by all his brothers, and even more so, his friends abandon him. He looks for someone to talk to but finds no one.
He who gains wisdom loves himself; he who respects knowledge will be happy.
The false witness will face punishment; the liar will face destruction.
It’s wrong for a fool to live in luxury, even less for a slave to command princes.
A wise man is slow to anger; his pride is in forgiving offenses.
The angry king is like a roaring lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
The foolish son leads to his father’s ruin; a nagging wife is like a dripping gutter.
House and wealth are inherited from a father, but a wise wife is a blessing from the Lord.
Laziness causes a man to fall asleep; the idle person will go hungry.
Whoever keeps the commandment preserves his life; whoever disregards it will die.
He who shows compassion to the poor lends to the Lord, who will reward him for his good deed.
Correct your son while there is still hope, or you may be responsible for his death.
The violent man exposes himself to a fine; if you let him go, he will keep doing it.
Heed advice and embrace correction, and you will gain wisdom in the end.
Many plans are in the human heart, but only the Lord’s purpose will come true.
Goodness is attractive in a person; a poor man is better than a liar.
The love of the Lord guides you to life; you will be satisfied and live fearlessly.
The lazy man dips his hand in the dish, but he cannot even lift it to his face mouth.
Punish the mocker, and the ignorant will be more cautious; rebuke a wise man, and he will listen to reason.
He who disowns his father and evicts his mother is a shameful and degenerate son.
My son, listen to guidance and stop drifting away from the words of wisdom.
An unworthy witness mocks justice; the mouth of the wicked feeds on evil.
Punishments were given for mockers and blows, for the backs of fools.
Commentaries
Second Collection – Proverbs of Solomon.
The core and oldest part of the book begins with the title “Proverbs of Solomon.” In reality, scholars place this section shortly after the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). Babylon had already entered Jewish territory, and violence increased daily. During this crisis, a group of wise men compiled a series of sayings and proverbs, some moral and others legislative, aiming to encourage the community and teach that the righteous—those who believe in the Lord and truly love him—will not suffer violence or death. Throughout this section, wisdom calls for conversion and justice, as well as the experience of poverty.
Second Collection.
This section primarily highlights the differences between the rich and the poor in terms of personal behavior. Proper behavior isn’t determined by wealth or social status; it results from individual effort and ongoing judgment that always considers respect for the Lord and his rules. The section concludes with a reference to the king, who, in God’s name, must lead by example in obeying and honoring God.
Second Collection.
The foolish son, the quarrelsome woman, and the lazy man are figures that symbolize the dysfunction of the home and the family, and thus could reflect the poor state of society. Since ancient times, the family has been regarded as a microcosm of society, where social conditions are reflected. Today, it is increasingly urgent and necessary to develop human, civic, social, and religious values within the family to envision a different society.
Second Collection.
Our attitudes toward the poor are directly connected to the Lord, which affirms that God’s core choice is for the poor, the weak, and the excluded. Jesus also reaffirmed this: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). In the same way, we can understand the other proverbs in this section: correction (18), listening to good advice (20), verifying the fulfillment of the Lord’s plans (21), respect for the Lord that allows us to sleep peacefully (23), and ultimately, diligence in daily life (24).
Second Collection.
In line with Deuteronomic teachings on respect and charity toward parents (Dt 5:16), the wisdom teacher describes as “unworthy and infamous” (26) the child who is capable of mistreating them (cf. Ex 21:15, 17) and urges children to accept correction, whether it comes from their parents willingly—their primary teachers—or from the wise men of the community.