chapter19

Poor walking in integrity

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1).

A poor man who does not have material riches does walk in his integrity in this world. He is honest. However, he who has perverse lips is a fool. A poor man with integrity is compared to a man with perverse lips. There are children of God without riches. If they walk with integrity before God, they are more blessed than those who have riches of this world. They should speak the truth at all times. They should neither suppress nor exagerrate any fact.

Soul without knowledge

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth (Proverbs 19:2).

Knowledge is very essential in this world. Even many children of God do not want to know what happens in this world. How can they pray for others if they have no knowledge. Knowledge does not mean mere education. Knowledge of morality and ethics should be imparted to the citizens by the government concerned. Knowledge of sin exalts a nation. In the west, people are very knowledgeable but do not have knowledge of sin. People without knowledge of sin hasten to commit sin. Bible teaches us on the consequences of sin.

Foolishness of man

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord (Proverbs 19:3).

A fool perverts his way and his heart is pitted against the Lord. A child of God becomes foolish when he or she refuses to walk in the ways of God as revealed in His word. There are many children of God who do not read their Bibles to know the ways of God but are led astray by false Bible teachers who twist the word of God. Though they have become the children of God by faith, they do not know the truth and their heart frets against the Lord who has delivered them from the bondage of sin. In other words, they become nervous and worried much as their heart does not trust in God at all times.

Wealth making friends

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour (Proverbs 19:4).

If you have wealth, many people become your friends. But if you are poor, your neighbour living next door does not honour you. Even in the Christian world, rich people are honoured and earn more friends. Blessed are the poor in spirit. If a child of God has earthly riches, he or she should minister to the poor people who would become his or her friends.

False witness

(Proverbs 19: 5 and 9 are clubbed together).

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape (Proverbs 19:5).

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish (Proverbs 19:9).

Persons tendering false testimony either in courts or in any inquiry will be punished under the law of the land. In the Christian world, the people of God will be punished by God for false witness. Do not exaggerate your testimonies about the miracles or the healing performed by God!

In Christian magazines and websites, we come across exaggerated reports on the number of people who have attended meetings, etc. God will punish those who publish such lying reports.

Bribe to prince

Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts (Proverbs 19:6).

Do not seek the favour of the rulers by giving them bribes! Nowadays, we can make friends with rulers by giving donations to their parties.

Brethren of poor

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 (Proverbs 19:7).

A poor person may have brethren or friends but they hate him and go away from him. They just please him with their words but do not help him. This happens in this world. But in the Christian world, we have to love those who are materially poor and to minister to them.

Wisdom and understanding

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good (Proverbs 19:8).

Wisdom comes from God. A child of God who gets wisdom loves his own soul by desisting from the sin that easily entangles him. He has understanding of what happens in his life and finds good in everything. All things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.

Servant ruling over princes

Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes (Proverbs 19:10).

A fool is not able to handle his estate or his possessions. A person who has the mentality of a servant is not worthy to have rule over the princes who are talented leaders.

Man with anger

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression (Proverbs 19:11).

The careful behaviour of a person not to become angry even on the slightest provocation makes him great and earns him grace from God. A child of God who is slow to anger and forgives him or her who irritates or harms him gets the glory of God manifested in his life. He thus lives a life without committing transgression of God's will.

King's wrath

The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass (Proverbs 19:12).

A ruler may show his wrath to you for transgressing his commandment to punish you like the lion roars to devour its prey. But if he changes his mind to show favour to you will come as a great relief and joy to you like the dew falls upon the grass.

Foolish son

A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping (Proverbs 19:13).

A foolish son is one who does not obey his godly parents. He becomes the calamity of his father. Similarly, a wife who continues to nag and argue with her husband always becomes a curse in the family. Both the prodigal son and the contentious wife destroy a divine home. A home should be built on love, trust and faith and not on money. If this foundation is destroyed by the wife and the children, then it becomes chaotic like a continual dropping in a rainy day.

House and riches

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord (Proverbs 19:14).

In this world, fathers leave inheritance in the form of house, bank deposits, gold, immovable properties etc for their children. But the Lord gives a prudent wife to a man. If there is a prudent wife, then you would get "house and riches" because he helps her husband to save money and to buy house, etc., by virtue of her hard work and integrity.

Slothfulness

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger (Proverbs 19:15).

Slothful people love to remain idle most of the time spending the precious time in entertainment and movies. This is tantamount to a deep sleep. The idle soul always remain in want. Even after retirement, many people remain idle and suffer diseases. They may have money but suffer hunger in soul due to lethargy.

Keeping commandment

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die (Proverbs 19:16).

A child of God must keep the commandment of God. Nowadays, many preachers say that under the dispensation of grace, there is no law for us. Though we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are supposed to read the word of God for God's instructions in righteousness. Our ways are ordained of God. If we despise God's ways, we will die spiritually and physically. Rest for body is ordained of God. God rested on the seventh day. Physical death meets those who do not take rest but overstrain their bodies. Even young people also need rest.

Pity upon poor

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again (Proverbs 19:17).

Nowadays, over emphasis is laid on prayer for the sick. Even in the standard litany prayer in our churches, we pray for God to feed the hungry. But we do not feed the hungry and do not help the poor financially. If we do so, God will repay us in due course, not necessarily in the form of finance but also in diverse ways.

Chastening son

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying (Proverbs 19:18).

Parents need to chasten their sons when they are young. When they become adolescent. , there is no hope for correction. Juveniles are committing the worst crimes because when they were young, parents allowed them to watch horror films and to indulge in little crimes. Even if the son cries while chastening, the father should not spare his rod.

Man of great wrath

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again (Proverbs 19:19).

Government or God will punish an evil doer who has committed offenses of great wrath. If you, a child of God, delivers him by prayers and counsel, from such punishment. You need to do it again if he has committed the same offense.

Counsel and instruction

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end (Proverbs 19:20).

The latter end matters more than the present or the past. In the latter end, one has to be wise. Many people are wise in the beginning of their race but when they near the end, they become foolish. When you climb a summit, you begin to be aggressive in the beginning but as you near the summit, due to fatigue, you want to give up and retreat. You begin to lose your faith and think of retreating. To be wise in your latter end, you have to hear God's counsel and to receive His specific instructions.

Devices in man's heart

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand (Proverbs 19:21).

In your heart, there are many ideas or devices. At times, you plan to do something which may be against the Lord's will. As you go ahead to do your own will, the counsel of the Lord will prevail. God does overrule us when we go astray from the path ordained of Him.

Kindness and poor man

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar (Proverbs 19:22).

Your desire has to be kind to all. You may be a poor man but with a heart filled with love and kindness. If so, you are better than a rich person who is a liar. A rich person is susceptible to lies because he has to protect his riches by deceit and fraud. However, a poor person always speaks the truth and shows kindness to others because he understands the pain or misery of the poor people. As a disciple of Jesus, do not aspire to be rich but to show kindness to others by ministering to the poor people with your little possession. If you have not accumulated much riches, then you need not attempt to protect the same by lies.

Fear of Lord

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil (Proverbs 19:23).

If you have the fear of the Lord in your heart and abstain from the sin, then you would have long life in this world. Your spiritual life will also grow stronger. You will always lead a life of contentment and no evil or calamity will befall you or your family because the eyes of the Lord are always upon you.

Slothful man

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again (Proverbs 19:24).

If you are slothful in the King's business or in your secular job, then you will not be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour. God or your employer wants to make the best talent in you. If you are slothful, your hidden ability will not manifest and you will be idling your precious time. You have to be extraordinary or exemplary in your service. You may be honest but slothful. You need to be both honest and hard working.

Smiting scorner

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge (Proverbs 19:25).

A scorner is a person who expresses contempt or disdain for someone or something. If you rebuke or punish a scorner, he may not repent. However, if you rebuke or warn him in presence of a simple person, it may help him. If you reprove or rebuke one who has understanding, it will be good for him because he will understand everything.

Father and mother

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach (Proverbs 19:26).

A prodigal son or a son devoid of understanding wastes the goodness of his father. It also includes his money. He does not listen to the advices of his father. By wasting his father, he hates his mother. The father and the mother are together. If the father is affected, the mother is also affected. The disobedient son causes shame and brings reproach to his parents.

Words of knowledge

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge (Proverbs 19:27).

A son has to avoid instructions that make him deviate from the words of knowledge. Many children do not accept moral instructions being taught to them as they are attracted towards the sinful world for enjoying pleasures of this world.

Ungodly witness

An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity (Proverbs 19:28).

A witness who does not speak the truth but the falsehood perverts justice and thus scorns judgment. The person who gives false testimony devours iniquity.

Judgments for scorners

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools (Proverbs 19:29).

Scorners are punished by law givers or judges. Fools are punished by way of stripes following judgments.

Next....Chapter 20