| hebrew | kjv | web | basic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
טוב פת חרבה ושלוה־בה מבית מלא זבחי־ריב׃ |
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. | Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour. | |||
| 2. |
עבד־משכיל ימשל בבן מביש ובתוך אחים יחלק נחלה׃ |
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. | A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers. | A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers. | |||
| 3. |
מצרף לכסף וכור לזהב ובחן לבות יהוה׃ |
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. | The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts. | The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. | |||
| 4. |
מרע מקשיב על־שפת־און שקר מזין על־לשון הות׃ |
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. | A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue. | |||
| 5. |
לעג לרש חרף עשהו שמח לאיד לא ינקה׃ |
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. | Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. | Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment. | |||
| 6. |
עטרת זקנים בני בנים ותפארת בנים אבותם׃ |
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. | Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents. | Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. | |||
| 7. |
לא־נאוה לנבל שפת־יתר אף כי־לנדיב שפת־שקר׃ |
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. | Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. | Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler. | |||
| 8. |
אבן־חן השחד בעיני בעליו אל־כל־אשר יפנה ישכיל׃ |
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. | A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers. | An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well. | |||
| 9. |
מכסה־פשע מבקש אהבה ושנה בדבר מפריד אלוף׃ |
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. | He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends. | |||
| 10. |
תחת גערה במבין מהכות כסיל מאה׃ |
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. | A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool. | A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man. | |||
| 11. |
אך־מרי יבקש־רע ומלאך אכזרי ישלח־בו׃ |
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him. | |||
| 12. |
פגוש דב שכול באיש ואל־כסיל באולתו׃ |
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. | |||
| 13. |
משיב רעה תחת טובה לא־תמיש רעה מביתו׃ |
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. | |||
| 14. |
פוטר מים ראשית מדון ולפני התגלע הריב נטוש׃ |
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. | The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. | The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. | |||
| 15. |
מצדיק רשע ומרשיע צדיק תועבת יהוה גם־שניהם׃ |
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. | He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh. | He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. | |||
| 16. |
למה־זה מחיר ביד־כסיל לקנות חכמה ולב־אין׃ |
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? | Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding? | How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? | |||
| 17. |
בכל־עת אהב הרע ואח לצרה יולד׃ |
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. | A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. | |||
| 18. |
אדם חסר־לב תוקע כף ערב ערבה לפני רעהו׃ |
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. | A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. | A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. | |||
| 19. |
אהב פשע אהב מצה מגביה פתחו מבקש־שבר׃ |
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. | The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. | |||
| 20. |
עקש־לב לא ימצא־טוב ונהפך בלשונו יפול ברעה׃ |
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. | One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. | Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. | |||
| 21. |
ילד כסיל לתוגה לו ולא־ישמח אבי נבל׃ |
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. | He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. | He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. | |||
| 22. |
לב שמח ייטב גהה ורוח נכאה תיבש־גרם׃ |
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. | A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. | |||
| 23. |
שחד מחיק רשע יקח להטות ארחות משפט׃ |
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. | A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. | |||
| 24. |
את־פני מבין חכמה ועיני כסיל בקצה־ארץ׃ |
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. | Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. | |||
| 25. |
כעס לאביו בן כסיל וממר ליולדתו׃ |
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. | A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. | A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. | |||
| 26. |
גם ענוש לצדיק לא־טוב להכות נדיבים על־ישר׃ |
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. | Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. | To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. | |||
| 27. |
חושך אמריו יודע דעת וקר־רוח איש תבונה׃ |
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. | He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. | He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. | |||
| 28. |
גם אויל מחריש חכם יחשב אטם שפתיו נבון׃ |
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. | Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. | Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense. | |||