Prov 19.1-29 is another collection of various sayings with no constant themes, but gives another contrast between truth and error, and the righteous and the wicked.
v 1…Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity (before God), than he who is perverse in speech (lips) and is a fool (“kesil” or fool is an educated person who just looks for reasons not to believe the truth and likes to contend).
v 2…Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge (da’at as in Hos 4.6 where it says “My people are destroyed for lack of “the” knowledge” which is the Torah), and he who makes haste with his feet (acts rashly and runs to evil) sins (Hebrew “chata” or misses the mark).
v 3…The foolishness of a man subverts his way (causes him to go off the path), and his heart rages agaisnt the Lord (they fret, blaming him for their issues and conflicts).
v 4…Wealth adds many friends (they seek them for money and favor), but a poor man is separated from his friend (from his affection and presence, is ignored).
v 5…A false witness (in open court) will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape (their penalty from Yehovah because a court is essential and justice depends on truth).
v 6…Many will entreat the favor of a generous man (literally “strike his face” to flatter him), and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts (they want to benefit from him).
v 7…All the brothers of the poor man hate him (neglect him); how much more do his friends go far from him (they are not bound by family ties)! He pursues them with words (for help) but they are gone (they abandon him).
v 8…He who gets wisdom (Hebrew “lev” or heart) loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding (holds it) will find good.
v 9… A false witness (in open court) will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish (see verse 5).
v 10…Luxury is not fitting for a fool (a kesil-see verse 1), much less for a servant to rule over princes (because they don’t know how to make a right use of it).
v 11…A man’s discrection makes him slow to anger (takes time to think and consider), and it is his glory (his reputation) to overlook (pass over) a transgression (not to agree with it, but doesn’t act like he has to hold everyone accountable for their offenses, etc).
v 12…The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion (it causes fear in the hearts of all around him as he prepares to act), but his favor is like dew on the grass (life-giving, refreshes).
v 13…A foolish son is destruction (ruin) to his father (it affects his reputation), and the contentions of a wife (fights often and argues) are like a constant dripping (always there and annoying).
v 14…House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent (practical) wife is from Yehovah (behaves well towards her husband, manages her affairs well).
v 15…Laziness casts into a deep sleep (leads one to be even more lazy), and an idle man (soul) will suffer hunger (consequences).
v 16…He who keeps (guards as valuable) the commandment (“mitzvah” or Torah) keeps (guards) his soul (life), but he who is careless (despises) of his ways (disregards his walk before Yehovah through the Torah) will die (is dead already in his sins).
v 17…He who is gracious (has pity) to a poor man lends to Yehovah (deposited in God’s hand), and he will repay him.
v 18…Discipline your son while there is hope (of correcting him), and do not desire his death (by false mercy, thus exposing him to a greater penalty later).
v 19…A man of great anger shall bear the penalty (suffer punishment for being out of control), for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again (because their anger gets them into trouble over and over again).
v 20…Listen to counsel and accept discipline that you may be wise the rest of your days (in the future).
v 21… Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand (it is God who leads the lives of men according to his will-John 1.13; Eph 1.4-9).
v 22…What is desirable in a man is his loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar.
v 23…The fear (reverence) of Yehovah leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched (not visited) by evil.
v 24…The sluggard buries his hand in the dish (plunges it in) and will not even bring it back to his mouth (would rather starve than feed himself).
v 25…Strike a scoffer and the naive (simple) may become shrewd (punish a fool and others may learn), but reprove one who has understanding (comprehension) and he will gain (discern) knowledge (da’at…the facts).
v 26…He who assaults his father and drives his mother away is a shameful and disgraceful son (brings reproach and violates Exo 20.12).
v 27…Cease listening, my son, to discipline and you will stray from the words of knowledge (“da’at” meaning the Torah, and it will lead to destruction).
v 28…A disreputable witness makes a mockery of justice (he doesn’t care about the truth), and the mouth of the wicked devours (swallows) iniquity (like a hungry man with food or a thirsty man with water; they accept false doctrine because they are wicked).
v 29…Judgments (Hebrew “mishpatim” or verdicts) are prepared for scoffers, and blows (with rods) for the back of fools (because they are fools, they expose themselves to justice sooner or later).
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