BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 19

Proverbs book home•Chapter 19 of 31•29 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Proverbs 19 Overview

The sayings praise integrity over wealth, warn against hasty zeal and false witnesses, show how money affects friendships, commend patience, discipline children, and trust the LORD's counsel above human devices.

ProverbsBook

19Chapter

29Verses

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Before you read Proverbs 19

Coming from

Proverbs 18 emphasized speech can destroy or strengthen, and wise relationships require humility. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 20 turns to sobriety, honest dealing, counsel, and righteous rule, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter realistically observes how wealth attracts people; describing that behavior does not approve shallow or exploitative relationships. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Wisdom for poverty, anger, family, discipline, and the fear of the LORD.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 19, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Discipline truth

In Proverbs 19, correction is a necessary part of growing in wisdom, but biblical discipline is never a license for cruelty or abuse.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 3:13-18 distinguishes heavenly wisdom from envy-driven earthly wisdom. This connection helps frame Proverbs 19.

Discipline connection

Hebrews 12:5-11 explicitly quotes Proverbs 3 and explains loving divine chastening. This connection helps frame Proverbs 19.

Justice connection

James 2:1-9 condemns partiality as inconsistent with God’s law of love. This connection helps frame Proverbs 19.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 19 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep discipline in context

Discipline in Proverbs 19 is meant to form wisdom and character; it does not justify rage, humiliation, cruelty, or physical abuse.

Read Proverbs 19 watching for…

poor integrity.

zeal without knowledge.

false witness.

defer anger.

many devices LORD counsel.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Integrity is better than foolish haste; wealth attracts friends while poverty loses them 8-14Wisdom, patience, false witnesses, rulers, foolish children, and a prudent wife 15-22Laziness, obedience, kindness to the poor, discipline, counsel, and the LORD’s purpose 23-29The fear of the LORD, slothfulness, correction, bad counsel, and judgments for scorners

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

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.

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

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Proverbs 19:14

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