Proverbs 19

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Proverbs 19

3The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart.Ἀφροσύνη ἀνδρὸς λυμαίνεται τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, τὸν δὲ Θεὸν αἰτιᾶται τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

4Wealth acquires many friends; but the poor is deserted even of the friend he has.Πλοῦτος προστίθησι φίλους πολλοὺς, ὁ δὲ πτωχὸς καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑπάρχοντος φίλου λείπεται.

5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that accuses unjustly shall not escape.Μάρτυς ψευδὴς οὐκ ἀτιμώρητος ἔσται, ὁ δὲ ἐγκαλῶν ἀδίκως οὐ διαφεύξεται.

6Many court the favor of kings; but every bad man becomes a reproach to another man.Πολλοὶ θεραπεύουσι πρόσωπα βασιλέων, πᾶς δὲ ὁ κακὸς γίνεται ὄνειδος ἀνδρί.

7Every one who hates his poor brother shall also be far from friendship. Good understanding will draw near to them that know it, and a sensible man will find it. He that does much harm perfects mischief; and he that used provoking words shall not escape.Πᾶς ὃς ἀδελφὸν πτωχὸν μισεῖ, καὶ φιλίας μακρὰν ἔσται· ἔννοια ἀγαθὴ τοῖς εἰδόσιν αὐτὴν ἐγγιεῖ, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος εὑρήσει αὐτήν· ὁ πολλὰ κακοποιῶν τελεσιουργεῖ κακίαν, ὃς δὲ ἐρεθίζει λόγους, οὐ σωθήσεται.

8He that procures wisdom loves himself; and he that keeps wisdom shall find good.Ὁ κτώμενος φρόνησιν ἀγαπᾷ ἑαυτὸν, ὃς δὲ φυλάσσει φρόνησιν, εὑρήσει ἀγαθά.

9A false witness shall not be unpunished; and whoever shall kindle mischief shall perish by it.Μάρτυς ψευδὴς οὐκ ἀτιμώρητος ἔσται, ὃς δʼ ἂν ἐκκαύσῃ κακίαν, ἀπολεῖται ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.

10Delight does not suit a fool, nor is it seemly if a servant should begin to rule with haughtiness.Οὐ συμφέρει ἄφρονι τρυφὴ, καὶ ἐὰν οἰκέτης ἄρξηται μεθʼ ὕβρεως δυναστεύειν.

11A merciful man is longsuffering; and his * triumph overtakes transgressors.Ἐλεήμων ἀνὴρ μακροθυμεῖ, τὸ δὲ καύχημα αὐτοῦ ἐπέρχεται παρανόμοις.

12The threatening of a king is like the roaring of a lion; but as dew on the grass, so is his favor.Βασιλέως ἀπειλὴ ὁμοία βρυγμῷ λέοντος· ὥσπερ δὲ δρόσος ἐπὶ χόρτῳ, οὕτως τὸ ἱλαρὸν αὐτοῦ.

13A foolish son is a disgrace to his father: vows paid out of the hire of a harlot are not pure.Αἰσχύνη πατρὶ υἱὸς ἄφρων, οὐχ ἁγναὶ εὐχαὶ ἀπὸ μισθώματος ἑταίρας.

14Fathers divide house and substance to their children: but a wife is suited to a man by the Lord.Οἶκον καὶ ὕπαρξιν μερίζουσι πατέρες παισὶ, παρὰ δὲ Κυρίου ἁρμόζεται γυνὴ ἀνδρί.

15† Cowardice possesses the effeminate man; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger.Δειλία κατέχει ἀνδρόγυνον, ψυχὴ δὲ ἀεργοῦ πεινάσει.

16He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall perish.Ὃς φυλάσσει ἐντολὴν, τηρεῖ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν· ὁ δὲ καταφρονῶν τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ὁδῶν, ἀπολεῖται.

17He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord; and he will recompense to him according to his gift.Δανείζει Θεῷ ὁ ἐλεῶν πτωχὸν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ δόμα αὐτοῦ ἀνταποδώσει αὐτῷ.

18Chasten your son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in your soul to haughtiness.Παίδευε υἱόν σου, οὕτως γὰρ ἔσται εὔελπις, εἰς δὲ ὕβριν μὴ ἐπαίρου τῇ ψυχῇ σου.

19A malicious man shall be severely punished, and if he commit injury, he shall also lose his life.Κακόφρων ἀνὴρ πολλὰ ζημιωθήσεται· ἐὰν δὲ λοιμεύηται, καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ προσθήσει.

20Hear, son, the instruction of your father, that you may be wise at your latter end.Ἄκουε, υἱὲ, παιδείαν πατρός σου, ἵνα σοφὸς γένῃ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων σου.

21There are many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord abides for ever.Πολλοὶ λογισμοὶ ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ἡ δὲ βουλὴ τοῦ Κυρίου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μένει.

22Mercy is a fruit to a man: and a poor man is better than a rich liar.Καρπὸς ἀνδρὶ ἐλεημοσύνη, κρείσσων δὲ πτωχὸς δίκαιος ἢ πλούσιος ψευδής.

23The fear of the Lord is life to a man: ‡ and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen.Φόβος Κυρίου εἰς ζωὴν ἀνδρὶ· ὁ δὲ ἄφοβος αὐλισθήσεται ἐν τόποις οὗ οὐκ ἐπισκοπεῖται γνῶσις.

24He that unjustly hides his hands in his bosom, will not even bring them up to his mouth.Ὁ ἐγκρύπτων εἰς τὸν κόλπον αὐτοῦ χεῖρας ἀδίκως, οὐδὲ τῷ στόματι οὐ μὴ προσενείκῃ αὐτάς.

25When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if you reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.Λοιμοῦ μαστιγουμένου, ἄφρων πανουργότερος γίνεται· ἐὰν δὲ ἐλέγχῃς ἄνδρα φρόνιμον, νοήσει αἴσθησιν.

26He that dishonors his father, and drives away his mother, shall be disgraced and shall be exposed to reproach.Ὁ ἀτιμάζων πατέρα καὶ ἀπωθούμενος μητέρα αὐτοῦ, καταισχυνθήσεται καὶ ἐπονείδιστος ἔσται.

27A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs.Υἱὸς ἀπολειπόμενος φυλάξαι παιδείαν πατρὸς, μελετήσει ῥήσεις κακάς.

28He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance: and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgment.Ὁ ἐγγυώμενος παῖδα ἄφρονα, καθυβρίσει δικαίωμα· στόμα δὲ ἀσεβῶν καταπίεται κρίσεις.

29Scourges are preparing for the intemperate, and punishments likewise for fools.Ἑτοιμάζονται ἀκολάστοις μάστιγες, καὶ τιμωρίαι ὁμοίως ἄφροσιν.

Translator's Notes

These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.

• v. 11*Gr. boasting comes upon.
• v. 15†Or, keeps down.
• v. 23‡Or, 'but he that is without fear (sc. of the Lord) shall dwell' etc.