Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

1לְאָדָ֥ם מַֽעַרְכֵי־ לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן׃

2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

2כָּֽל־ דַּרְכֵי־ אִ֭ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

3Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved.

3גֹּ֣ל אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

4The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose-- even the wicked for the day of disaster.

4כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֭הוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־ רָ֝שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה׃

5Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

5תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ גְּבַהּ־ לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃

6Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD.

6בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃

7When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

7בִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה דַּרְכֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־ א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ׃

8Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

8טוֹב־ מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

9A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

9לֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ׃

10God's verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

10קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־ שִׂפְתֵי־ מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־ פִּֽיו׃

11Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His concern.

11פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽיהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ כָּל־ אַבְנֵי־ כִֽיס׃

12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.

12תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא׃

13Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

13רְצ֣וֹן מְ֭לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־ צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב׃

14A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it.

14חֲמַת־ מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־ מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃

15When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

15בְּאוֹר־ פְּנֵי־ מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃

16Get wisdom-- how much better it is than gold! And get understanding-- it is preferable to silver.

16קְֽנֹה־ חָכְמָ֗ה מַה־ טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֝ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף׃

17The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

17מְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

18Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

18לִפְנֵי־ שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃

19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.

19ט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ ר֭וּחַ אֶת־ [עניים] (עֲנָוִ֑ים) מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־ גֵּאִֽים׃

20The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the LORD will be happy.

20מַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־ דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו׃

21Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

21לַחֲכַם־ לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

22Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

22מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

23A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech.

23לֵ֣ב חָ֭כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.

24צוּף־ דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־ נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃

25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

25יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־ מָֽוֶת׃

26A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.

26נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃

27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

27אִ֣ישׁ בְּ֭לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־ [שפתיו] (שְׂ֝פָת֗וֹ) כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת׃

28A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

28אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן‪‬ מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃

29A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

29אִ֣ישׁ חָ֭מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־ טֽוֹב׃

30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

30עֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֭ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה׃

31Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.

31עֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא׃

32Patience is better than power, and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city.

32ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃

33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

33בַּ֭חֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־ הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה כָּל־ מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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