Proverbs 19:1  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity…”
Content of the heart is more important than the content of the pocket.

2  “…he sins who hastens with his feet”
Getting in a hurry without checking things out first.  Being without knowledge.

3  “The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.”
When I don’t trust Him.  Mind gets crazy with my own thinking and understanding.  Which is why He says not to trust in my own understanding.  Hardest thing in trusting is the waiting.  He never does anything out of His time.  And it’s usually not mine.

5  “A false witness will not go unpunished…”
Either here or there.  All will eventually be brought to light and corrected.

6-7  “Many entreat the favor of the nobility…”
So sad that we put so much emphasis on financial gain.  We can’t seem to see the true value in others or relate to them apart from money.  Even our own pride gets in the way.

9  “A false witness will not go unpunished…”
Repeat of verse 5 with a slight change in the result.  Importance shown through repetition.  Bible teacher used to say if he said something once it was worth remembering, twice and it was worth writing down, three times and we’d probably see it on a test.

11  “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger…”
Wisdom expressed.  Controlling the temper shows you’re thinking, you’re using wisdom.

13  “A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.”
Amusing that these two are put together, though I’m sure it wasn’t intended to be so.  Obviously both are showing things that weigh heavily on a man, a son who continually causes grief and a wife who nags.

14  “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.”
I’d take any of it.  Fathers can leave an inheritance from what they have been given, but only God can fashion a woman’s heart.

17  “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.”
One of those hard to fully understand beyond the face value.  Jesus spoke of this in Luke 6:38.  Difficulty comes in understanding exactly how and when the compensation or reciprocity will occur.  Truth is there, sometimes difficult to see.

18  “Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.”
Those against corporal punishment don’t see the danger in not disciplining children.  To not discipline a child is to set them up for bad consequences and even their own destruction.  That is certainly not love.

21  “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.”
Like this verse.  Knowing that no matter what happens or what man does, the plans of God will be accomplished.  His promises are true and will be completed.

24  “…will not so much as bring it to his mouth again”
Now that is laziness.

25  “Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary…”
Even the simple are enlightened by a rebuke.  They may not understand the wisdom, but they can see the consequences of bad behavior.  That’s the reason behind discipline.  When the understanding is low, the punishment gets the attention, awakening the person to their actions and consequences.  Once the understanding has matured, only a rebuke is needed to correct bad behavior.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.