Proverbs 19 Series

Proverbs 19

19:1 – Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips and is a fool:

i. Previous proverbs have been critical of the poor, but here Solomon recognized that not all poverty is caused by moral failure or weakness.

19:4 – Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend:

i. When a person is wealthy, it draws many people to them in friendship. Yet these friendships may not be sincere or meaningful.

19:5 – A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape:

i. The first idea in this proverb is probably that of the law court, and in the court, it is essential that the false witness be punished.

19:6 – Many entreat the favor of the nobility and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts:

i. When someone is of high status and importance (of the nobility), many people want their favor. There are advantages in having the favor of influential people.

19:7 – All the brothers of the poor hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

i. To be poor is often to be rejected by men, even by brothers and friends. What a contrast to Jesus, who