The 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.
The Old Testament
Proverbs 19
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 19
Choose a book or chapter
27 Brenton verses
Wealth 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.
A 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.
Many court the favour of kings; but every bad man becomes a reproach to another man.
Πολλοὶ θεραπεύουσι πρόσωπα βασιλέων, πᾶς δὲ ὁ κακὸς γίνεται ὄνειδος ἀνδρί.
Every 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 uses 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.
He that procures wisdom loves himself; and he that keeps wisdom shall find good.
Ὁ κτώμενος φρόνησιν ἀγαπᾷ ἑαυτὸν, ὃς δὲ φυλάσσει φρόνησιν, εὑρήσει ἀγαθά.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; and whosoever shall kindle mischief shall perish by it.
Μάρτυς ψευδὴς οὐκ ἀτιμώρητος ἔσται, ὃς δʼ ἂν ἐκκαύσῃ κακίαν, ἀπολεῖται ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
Delight 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.
A merciful man is long-suffering; and his triumph overtakes transgressors.
Source notes (1)
- Gr. boasting comes upon.
Ἐλεήμων ἀνὴρ μακροθυμεῖ, τὸ δὲ καύχημα αὐτοῦ ἐπέρχεται παρανόμοις.
The threatening of a king is like the roaring of a lion; but as dew on the grass, so is his favour.
Βασιλέως ἀπειλὴ ὁμοία βρυγμῷ λέοντος· ὥσπερ δὲ δρόσος ἐπὶ χόρτῳ, οὕτως τὸ ἱλαρὸν αὐτοῦ.
A 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.
Fathers 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.
Cowardice possesses the effeminate man; and the soul of the sluggard shall hunger.
Source notes (1)
- Or, keeps down.
Δειλία κατέχει ἀνδρόγυνον, ψυχὴ δὲ ἀεργοῦ πεινάσει.
He 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.
He 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.
Chasten thy son, for so he shall be hopeful; and be not exalted in thy soul to haughtiness.
Παίδευε υἱόν σου, οὕτως γὰρ ἔσται εὔελπις, εἰς δὲ ὕβριν μὴ ἐπαίρου τῇ ψυχῇ σου.
A 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.
Hear, son, the instruction of thy father, that thou mayest be wise at thy latter end.
Ἄκουε, υἱὲ, παιδείαν πατρός σου, ἵνα σοφὸς γένῃ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων σου.
There 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.
Mercy 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.
The fear of the Lord is life to a man: and he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not seen.
Source notes (1)
- Or, 'but he that is without fear (sc. of the Lord) shall dwell' etc.
Φόβος Κυρίου εἰς ζωὴν ἀνδρὶ· ὁ δὲ ἄφοβος αὐλισθήσεται ἐν τόποις οὗ οὐκ ἐπισκοπεῖται γνῶσις.
He 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.
When a pestilent character is scourged, a simple man is made wiser: and if thou reprove a wise man, he will understand discretion.
Λοιμοῦ μαστιγουμένου, ἄφρων πανουργότερος γίνεται· ἐὰν δὲ ἐλέγχῃς ἄνδρα φρόνιμον, νοήσει αἴσθησιν.
He that dishonours 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.
A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father will cherish evil designs.
Υἱὸς ἀπολειπόμενος φυλάξαι παιδείαν πατρὸς, μελετήσει ῥήσεις κακάς.
He that becomes surety for a foolish child will despise the ordinance: and the mouth of ungodly men shall drink down judgments.
Ὁ ἐγγυώμενος παῖδα ἄφρονα, καθυβρίσει δικαίωμα· στόμα δὲ ἀσεβῶν καταπίεται κρίσεις.
Scourges are preparing for the intemperate, and punishments likewise for fools.
Ἑτοιμάζονται ἀκολάστοις μάστιγες, καὶ τιμωρίαι ὁμοίως ἄφροσιν.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.