King James Version

Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

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Hebrew

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תַּאֲוַ֣תtaavatdaintyתַּאֲוָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “dainty”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8378a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm)dainty, desire, [idiom] exceedingly, [idiom] greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See also H6914 (קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה).אָדָ֣םadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.חַסְדּ֑וֹchasdvokindnessחֵסֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “kindness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.וְטֽוֹבvetovand goodטוֹבconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…רָ֝שׁrashlackרוּשׁverb, qal, participle, absolute — “lack”, a verb used as a describing wordH7326to be destitutelack, needy, (make self) poor (man).מֵאִ֥ישׁmeishfrom a certainאִישׁpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “from a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…כָּזָֽבkazavdeceitfulכָּזָבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “deceitful”, the ordinary formH3577falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The lust of a man is his shame; and a poor man is better than a liar.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.

Young’s Literal Translation

The desirableness of a man [is] his kindness, And better [is] the poor than a liar.

World English Bible

That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

Darby Translation

The charm of a man is his kindness; and a poor [man] is better than a liar.

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The lust of a man is his shame; and a poor man is better than a liar.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Mercy is a fruit to a man: and a poor man is better than a rich liar.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καρπὸς ἀνδρὶ ἐλεημοσύνη, κρείσσων δὲ πτωχὸς δίκαιος ἢ πλούσιος ψευδής.