Sunday 4 October27th Sunday in Ordinary TimeLiturgical colour: green

Bible / Proverbs

Proverbs 19

Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation

1 Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.

2 Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.

3 The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.

4 Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall not escape.

6 Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of him that giveth gifts.

7 The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.

8 But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence, shall find good things.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.

10 Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs.

12 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.

14 House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, shall die.

17 He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.

18 Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.

19 He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away, he shall add another thing.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.

22 A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.

23 The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the fulness without being visited with evil.

24 The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth.

25 The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline.

26 He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.

27 Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.

28 An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies of fools.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers, so these are listed by chapter.

  1. Proverbs 19:9 in modern BiblesCCC 2476
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2476 “False witness and perjury. When it is made publicly, a statement contrary to the truth takes on a particular gravity. In court…”
  2. Proverbs 19:17 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “For even as God does not need our possessions, so do we need to offer something to God; as Solomon says: "He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  3. Proverbs 19:21 in modern BiblesCCC 303
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 303 “The witness of Scripture is unanimous that the solicitude of divine providence is concrete and immediate; God cares for all, from the…”

A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.