| hebrew | kjv | web | basic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
לתאוה יבקש נפרד בכל־תושיה יתגלע׃ |
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. | An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. | He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense. | |||
| 2. |
לא־יחפץ כסיל בתבונה כי אם־בהתגלות לבו׃ |
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. | A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. | A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light. | |||
| 3. |
בבוא־רשע בא גם־בוז ועם־קלון חרפה׃ |
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. | When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace. | When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame. | |||
| 4. |
מים עמקים דברי פי־איש נחל נבע מקור חכמה׃ |
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. | The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. | The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream. | |||
| 5. |
שאת פני־רשע לא־טוב להטות צדיק במשפט׃ |
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. | To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice. | To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright. | |||
| 6. |
שפתי כסיל יבאו בריב ופיו למהלמות יקרא׃ |
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. | A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. | A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows. | |||
| 7. |
פי־כסיל מחתה־לו ושפתיו מוקש נפשו׃ |
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. | A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul. | The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul. | |||
| 8. |
דברי נרגן כמתלהמים והם ירדו חדרי־בטן׃ |
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts. | The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach. | |||
| 9. |
גם מתרפה במלאכתו אח הוא לבעל משחית׃ |
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. | One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction. | He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction. | |||
| 10. |
מגדל־עז שם יהוה בו־ירוץ צדיק ונשגב׃ |
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. | The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe. | |||
| 11. |
הון עשיר קרית עזו וכחומה נשגבה במשכיתו׃ |
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. | The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. | The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart. | |||
| 12. |
לפני־שבר יגבה לב־איש ולפני כבוד ענוה׃ |
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. | Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. | Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit. | |||
| 13. |
משיב דבר בטרם ישמע אולת היא־לו וכלמה׃ |
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. | He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him. | To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame. | |||
| 14. |
רוח־איש יכלכל מחלהו ורוח נכאה מי ישאנה׃ |
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? | A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? | The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up? | |||
| 15. |
לב נבון יקנה־דעת ואזן חכמים תבקש־דעת׃ |
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. | The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge. | The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge. | |||
| 16. |
מתן אדם ירחיב לו ולפני גדלים ינחנו׃ |
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. | A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. | A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men. | |||
| 17. |
צדיק הראשון בריבו יבא־רעהו וחקרו׃ |
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. | He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him. | The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light. | |||
| 18. |
מדינים ישבית הגורל ובין עצומים יפריד׃ |
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. | The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart. | The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong. | |||
| 19. |
אח נפשע מקרית־עז ומדונים כבריח ארמון׃ |
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. | A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle. | A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower. | |||
| 20. |
מפרי פי־איש תשבע בטנו תבואת שפתיו ישבע׃ |
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. | A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. | With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure. | |||
| 21. |
מות וחיים ביד־לשון ואהביה יאכל פריה׃ |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food. | |||
| 22. |
מצא אשה מצא טוב ויפק רצון מיהוה׃ |
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. | Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. | Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord. | |||
| 23. |
תחנונים ידבר־רש ועשיר יענה עזות׃ |
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. | The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. | The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer. | |||
| 24. |
איש רעים להתרעע ויש אהב דבק מאח׃ |
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. | A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother. | |||