English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

1פַּלְגֵי־ מַ֣יִם לֶב־ מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־ יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

2כָּֽל־ דֶּרֶךְ־ אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

3עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

4רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

5מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־ לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכָל־ אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־ לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

6פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־ מָֽוֶת׃

7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.

7שֹׁד־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

8The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.

8הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

9ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־ פִּנַּת־ גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

10The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

10נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־ רָ֑ע לֹא־ יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

11בַּעְנָשׁ־ לֵ֭ץ‪‬ יֶחְכַּם־ פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־ דָּֽעַת׃

12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.

12מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

13אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־ דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

14A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

14מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־ אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

15שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

16One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.

16אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

17אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.

18כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

19ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת [מדונים] (מִדְיָנִ֣ים) וָכָֽעַס׃

20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

20אוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

21Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

21רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

22עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

23Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

23שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

24זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃

25The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

25תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־ מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

26All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

26כָּל־ הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

27זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־ בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

28A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

28עֵד־ כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.

29הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא ׀ [יכין] (יָבִ֬ין) [דרכיו] (דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃)

30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

30אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃ פ

31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.

31ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.