(Prov 19:1 NASB) Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
Prov 19:1: Integrity is much better than wealth.
(Prov 19:2 NASB) Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who makes haste with his feet errs.
Prov 19:2: He who proceeds without caution and direction will hasten into sin.
(Prov 19:3 NASB) The foolishness of man subverts his way, And his heart rages against the LORD.
Prov 19:3: The foolishness man blames Elohim for his failures that he brings upon himself.
(Prov 19:4 NASB) Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.
Prov 19:4: This is just how life is sometimes.
(Prov 19:5 NASB) A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.
Prov 19:5: False witnesses and liars will not go unpunished.
(Prov 19:6 NASB) Many will entreat the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
Prov 19:6: This is just another fact of life.
(Prov 19:7 NASB) All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
Prov 19:7: This is the state of the poor man who apparently is always in want from his family and acquaintances. He pursues them with words, but they flee.
(Prov 19:8 NASB) He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
(Prov 19:9 NASB) A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.
Prov 19:9: These are Proverbs very similar to ones we have already seen. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul (life).
(Prov 19:10 NASB) Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Prov 19:10: Comfort tends to confirm a fool in his folly.
(Prov 19:11 NASB) A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
Prov 19:11: If a man is slow to anger, he is showing discretion (wisdom). It is to his own glory to overlook a transgression.
(Prov 19:12 NASB) The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
Prov 19:12: It is always wise to stay on the good side of one with power.
(Prov 19:13 NASB) A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
Prov 19:13: These are both very true. The fact that the two are mentioned here together is likely a reference to a domineering wife and mother who constantly sides with her foolish son in defiance to the father’s authority.
(Prov 19:14 NASB) House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Prov 19:14: House and wealth are sometimes inherited, but do not assure happiness. But a prudent wife (as opposed to a contentious wife) is a gift from Elohim that brings a man joy and strength.
(Prov 19:15 NASB) Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
Prov 19:15: This is more caution against laziness.
(Prov 19:16 NASB) He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.
Prov 19:16: The Hebrew word for “soul” is nephesh. It is translated 183 times as “life” or something similar. He who keeps the commandments keeps his life (Luke 10:25-28, 1 Cor. 7:19, 1 John 3:21-22).
(Prov 19:17 NASB) He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.
Prov 19:17: Graciously lending to a poor man is lending to Elohim, who will repay him for this (112:9, Isa. 58:7-11).
(Prov 19:18 NASB) Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.
Prov 19:18: We are to discipline our children. To neglect to do so is to desire his death.
(Prov 19:19 NASB) A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
Prov 19:19: It is futile to rescue a man of great anger because his temper will repeatedly land him in more trouble.
(Prov 19:20 NASB) Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.
Prov 19:20: Wisdom learned in youth gives understanding and prudence in adulthood and old age.
(Prov 19:21 NASB) Many are the plans in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.
Prov 19:21: This is a contrast between man’s plans and Elohim’s counsel. The plans of man are many, varied, and contradicting. The counsel and plan of Elohim is forever (Isa 14:24-27, 46:10, Acts 4:27-28).
(Prov 19:22 NASB) What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
Prov 19:22: Kindness is a desirable trait in a man. A liar is greatly despised.
(Prov 19:23 NASB) The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
Prov 19:23: The fear of Yahweh is to keep His commandments, this gives life (Deut 5:29, Matt 5:6, Isa. 55:1-3).
(Prov 19:24 NASB) The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, And will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Prov 19:24: There are those who are so lazy they want you to feed them.
(Prov 19:25 NASB) Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.
Prov 19:25: This is a contrast between the simple, naive person and the one who has understanding. The simpleton needs to see the mocker suffer in order to learn. A man of understanding needs only words of reproof.
(Prov 19:26 NASB) He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
Prov 19:26: There comes a time when a son is too big to physically control. If he has not been disciplined in his youth, he can be a tyrant to his parents when he gets older.
(Prov 19:27 NASB) Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Prov 19:27: The one who stops listening and obeying Torah, will soon go astray.
(Prov 19:28 NASB) A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
Prov 19:28: To practice evil (breaking Torah) is the enjoyment of the wicked.
(Prov 19:29 NASB) Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.
Prov 19:29: Judgment is prepared for scoffers. Peter spoke of this (2 Peter 3:3-7).
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas