Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations Notes and Commentary
Proverbs 19:
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We all Need to Set Ourselves on the Right Track!
1 Better the poor walking in integrity
than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
The Vilna Gaon suggests that the perversity of speech is what causes foolishness.
The Hebrew may alternately be rendered:
Better the indigent who conducts himself in innocence
than one who twists his words and becomes a fool.
2 Desire without knowledge is not good,
and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
The Vilna Gaon applies this verse to someone who tries to do good without learning the Bible.
You need knowledge of the will of God.
3 One's own folly leads to ruin,
yet the heart rages against the Lord.
This verse is as it says:
Our own mistakes usually are the cause of our downfall. Nevertheless, in our hearts, we still tend to blame the Almighty for the bad that befalls us.
Here is an alternate translation:
The irresponsibility of a person will corrupt his conduct but against God shall his heart be angry.
4 Wealth brings many friends,
but the poor are left friendless.
The Vilna Gaon applies this verse to the Torah. Learn more, gain knowledge and more insight will be given unto you.
Disregard the Bible and even that common sense you already have shall be taken away.
Here is an alternate translation:
Wealth shall add many companions,
But the poor man will be separated even from his fellow,
i.e. even another poor man, like himself, will not want to know him.
Proverbs 19:5-7. Avoid Falsehood! Beware the Fate of Joseph
Proverbs 19:
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will not escape.
6 Many seek the favour of the generous,
and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
7 If the poor are hated even by their kin,
how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.
This is self-explanatory.
We should try to tell the truth. If you cannot say something without lying try not to say anything.
One should try and give to others what one has when possible.
This includes money, advice, cheerfulness.
Take account of human frailty.
If you do not get on with someone or in a certain crowd maybe you should try being more open to them?
Here is a rough alternate translation of the above:
Proverbs 19:
5 A lying witness will not go clean;
and a manufacturer of falsehood shall not escape.
6 Many will hope [to see] the face of the generous,
and everyone is companionable to a man who gives.
7 All the kinfolk of the poor man hate him.
Even his fellows keep far away.
They are not pursuers of [empty] words.
This last expression, "They are not pursuers of [empty] words" in its simple sense means that the companions of a poor man keep far away from him since he has nothing to give them in exchange for what he takes excepts for empty promises.
A LITERAL word for word translation of the expression goes something like,
"A Pursuer of sayings not his are they".
There were those who rendered "not his" as actually reading "his" i.e. his false sayings will come back on him.
The false things he said will return to pursue him.
Rashi quotes a Midrash saying that an example of this happened with Joseph.
Joseph brought a false negative report about his brothers to their father. cf.
Genesis 37:
2 Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
The words translated as bad report in Hebrew "dibatam raah" connote something that is probably not true.
The Midrash says that just as Joseph said incorrect things about his brothers so too were untrue words to be said about himself when he was falsely accused of attempted rape (Genesis 39:17-18).
Proverbs 19:8-10 Goodness is Self-Help!
NRSV translation
Proverbs 19
8 To get wisdom is to love oneself;
to keep understanding is to prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and the liar will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Alternate Literal Translation Directly from the Hebrew:
Proverbs 19:
8 Gaining the heart [of a matter] is love for oneself,
Maintaining comprehension [enables] the finding of good [for oneself].
9 A false witness shall not go clean
and the spreaders of falsehood shall perish.
10 Pleasure is not agreeable to a fool ,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Proverbs 19:11-14 The Value of Restraint
11 Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offence.
12 A king€™s anger is like the growling of a lion, but his favour is like dew on the grass.
13 A stupid child is ruin to a father, and a wife€™s quarrelling is a continual dripping of rain.
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:19-22 Moral Qualities Are What Count!
Proverbs 19:
19 A violent-tempered person will pay the penalty;
if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again.
Hebrew Text and Commentaries.
A bad tempered person will sooner or later cause damage. Even if he is saved from the consequences of his wrath on one occasion, there will be others.
His best recourse would be to correct his attitude.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom for the future.
Hebrew Text and Commentaries.
Listen to others, and receive reproof.
This will give you the needed wisdom for the end result.
21 The human mind may devise many plans,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
Hebrew Text and Commentaries.
There are many thoughts in the mind of a man,
The counsel of the Almighty shall be raised.
22 What is desirable in a person is loyalty,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.
Hebrew Text and Commentaries.
What is desirable in a person is his assistance to others,
A poor man is preferable to a deceiver.
Proverbs 19:23-25 The Fear of the ALMIGHTY is Life!
Proverbs 19:
23 The fear of the LORD is life indeed;
filled with it one rests secure
and suffers no harm.
24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,
and will not even bring it back to the mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.
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Proverbs 19: 26-29 Evil begins with Deceit
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Proverbs 19: 26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother are children who cause shame and bring reproach.
Brit-Am Rendition (From the Hebrew Original in the light of Select Rabbinical Commentators):
He who steals from the father causes the mother to flee. [The father blames the mother for how the son has turned out.]
27 Cease straying, my child, from the words of knowledge, in order that you may hear instruction.
Brit-Am Rendition:
Cease my son from listening to words of rebellion, from turning away from my sayings of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Brit-Am Rendition:
A wicked testifier will recommend judgment [He will disguise his intentions and pretend to be honorable]
and the mouth of the wicked inflicts evil oppression.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and flogging for the backs of fools.
Brit-Am Rendition:
Lashes are ready for those who mock, blows for the body of fools.