The Counsel of Our Father Stands
Poverty and friendship, told without sentiment: wealth adds friends, while a poor man's own brothers avoid him. Alongside that sits restraint, since good sense makes a person slow to anger and overlooking an offense is called his glory. Giving to the poor is lending to our Father.
19 1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one whose words are crooked and is a fool. 2Also, desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever acts in haste misses the way. 3A person's own foolishness ruins his way, yet his heart rages against our Father. 4Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who breathes out lies will not escape. 6Many seek the favor of a generous person, and everyone is a friend to one who gives gifts. 7All the brothers of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends keep far from him! He calls after them, but they are gone. 8Whoever gets wisdom loves his own soul; whoever guards understanding will find good. 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who breathes out lies will perish. 10Luxury is not fitting for a fool—much less for a servant to rule over princes. 11The good sense of a person makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 12A king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping. 14House and wealth are an inheritance from one's ancestors, but a prudent wife is from our Father. 15Laziness casts into deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry. 16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; whoever despises his ways will die. 17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to our Father, and our Father will repay him for his deed. 18Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. 19A person of great wrath must pay the penalty; for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. 20Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may gain wisdom in the days to come. 21Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the counsel of our Father that will stand. 22What is desired in a person is covenant love, and a poor person is better than a liar. 23The fear of our Father leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied, untouched by harm. 24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25Strike a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a person of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26Whoever does violence to his father and drives away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. 27Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down wickedness. 29Punishment is prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.