Proverbs 16 מִשְׁלֵי
Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917
1לְאָדָ֥ם מַֽעַרְכֵי־לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן׃
le'adam ma'arkhe-lev umeyhva ma'ane lashon
The preparations of the heart are man’s, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2כָּֽל־דַּרְכֵי־אִ֭ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃
kal-darkhe-ish zakh be'enav vetokhen ruchot ADONAI
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3גֹּ֣ל אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
gol el-ADONAI ma'asekha veyikkonu machshevotekha
Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established.
4כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֭הוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־רָ֝שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה׃
kol pa'al ADONAI lamma'anehu vegam-rasha' leyom ra'a
The LORD hath made every things for His own purpose, Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
to'avat ADONAI kal-gevah-lev yad leyad lo yinnake
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; My hand upon it! he shall not be unpunished.
6בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃
bechesed ve'emet yekhuppar avon uveyir'at ADONAI sur mera'
By mercy and truth iniquity is expiated; And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7בִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ׃
birtzot ADONAI darkhe-ish gam-oyvav yashlim itto
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
tov-me'at bitzdaka merov tevuot belo mishpat
Better is a little with righteousness Than great revenues with injustice.
9לֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ׃
lev adam yechashev darko veADONAI yakhin tza'ado
A man’s heart deviseth his way; But the LORD directeth his steps.
10קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־פִּֽיו׃
kesem al-sifte-melekh bemishpat lo yim'al-piv
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth trespasseth not in judgment.
11פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽיהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס׃
peles umozne mishpat laADONAI ma'asehu kal-avne-khis
A just balance and scales are the LORD’S; All the weights of the bag are His work.
12תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא׃
to'avat melakhim asot resha' ki vitzdaka yikkon kisse
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
13רְצ֣וֹן מְ֭לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב׃
retzon melakhim sifte-tzedek vedover yesharim ye'ehav
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
14חֲמַת־מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃
chamat-melekh mal'akhe-mavet ve'ish chakham yekhapperenna
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
15בְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃
beor-pene-melekh chayyim uretzono ke'av malkosh
In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16קְֽנֹה־חָכְמָ֗ה מַה־טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֝ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף׃
keno-chakhma ma-tov mecharutz ukenot bina nivchar mikkasef
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17מְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃
mesillat yesharim sur mera' shomer nafsho notzer darko
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18לִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃
lifne-shever gaon velifne khishalon govah ruach
Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19ט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ר֭וּחַ אֶת־עניים [עֲנָוִ֑ים] מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־גֵּאִֽים׃
tov shefal-ruach et-anavim mechallek shalal et-ge'im
Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the humble, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20מַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו׃
maskil al-davar yimtza-tov uvoteach baADONAI ashrav
He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21לַחֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃
lachakham-lev yikkare navon umetek sefatayim yosif lekach
The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
mekor chayyim sekhel be'alav umusar evilim ivvelet
Understanding is a fountain of life unto him that hath it; But folly is the chastisement of fools.
23לֵ֣ב חָ֭כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃
lev chakham yaskil pihu ve'al-sefatav yosif lekach
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
24צוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃
tzuf-devash imre-no'am matok lannefesh umarpe la'atzem
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת׃
yesh derekh yashar lifne-ish ve'acharitah darkhe-mavet
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
26נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃
nefesh amel amla lo ki-akhaf alav pihu
The hunger of the labouring man laboureth for him; For his mouth compelleth him.
27אִ֣ישׁ בְּ֭לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־שפתיו [שְׂ֝פָת֗וֹ] כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת׃
ish beliyya'al kore ra'a ve'al-sefato ke'esh tzaravet
An ungodly man diggeth up evil, And in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝/נִרְגָּ֗ן מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃
ish tahpukhot yeshallach madon venirgan mafrid alluf
A froward man soweth strife; And a whisperer separateth familiar friends.
29אִ֣ישׁ חָ֭מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־טֽוֹב׃
ish chamas yefatte re'ehu veholikho bederekh lo-tov
A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, And leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30עֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֭ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה׃
otze enav lachshov tahpukhot koretz sefatav killa ra'a
He shutteth his eyes, it is to devise froward things; He that biteth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
31עֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא׃
ateret tif'eret seva bederekh tzedaka timmatze
The hoary head is a crown of glory, It is found in the way of righteousness.
32ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃
tov erekh appayim miggibbor umoshel berucho millokhed ir
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33בַּ֭חֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃
bachek yutal et-haggoral umeyhva kal-mishpato
The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.