Proverbs 21 מִשְׁלֵי
Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917
1פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃
palge-mayim lev-melekh beyad-ADONAI al-kal-asher yachpotz yattennu
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.
2כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃
kal-derekh-ish yashar be'enav vetokhen libbot ADONAI
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the hearts.
3עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃
aso tzedaka umishpat nivchar laADONAI mizzavach
To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃
rum-enayim urechav-lev nir resha'im chattat
A haughty look, and a proud heart— The tillage of the wicked is sin.
5מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכָל־אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃
machshevot charutz akh-lemotar vekhal-atz akh-lemachsor
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
6פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃
po'al otzarot bilshon shaker hevel niddaf mevakshe-mavet
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.
7שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
shod-resha'im yegorem ki me'anu la'asot mishpat
The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; Because they refuse to do justly.
8הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃
hafakhpakh derekh ish vazar vezakh yashar pa'olo
The way of man is froward and strange; But as for the pure, his work is right.
9ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃
tov lashevet al-pinnat-gag me'eshet midyanim uvet chaver
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
10נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָ֑ע לֹא־יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
nefesh rasha' ivveta-ra' lo-yuchan be'enav re'ehu
The soul of the wicked desireth evil; His neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11בַּעְנָשׁ־לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת׃
ba'nash-letz yechkam-peti uvehaskil lechakham yikkach-da'at
When the scorner is punished, the thoughtless is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃
maskil tzaddik levet rasha' mesallef resha'im lara'
The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; Overthrowing the wicked to their ruin.
13אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃
otem azno mizza'akat-dal gam-hu yikra velo ye'ane
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃
mattan basseter yikhpe-af veshochad bachek chema azza
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a present in the bosom strong wrath.
15שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
simcha latzaddik asot mishpat umechitta lefo'ale aven
To do justly is joy to the righteous, But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
16אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃
adam to'e midderekh haskel bikhal refa'im yanuach
The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the congregation of the shades.
17אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃
ish machsor ohev simcha ohev yayin-vashemen lo ya'ashir
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃
kofer latzaddik rasha' vetachat yesharim boged
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the faithless cometh in the stead of the upright.
19ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת מדונים [מִדְיָנִ֣ים] וָכָֽעַס׃
tov shevet be'eretz-midbar me'eshet midyanim vakha'as
It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20אוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃
otzar nechmad vashemen binve chakham ukhesil adam yevalle'ennu
There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃
rodef tzedaka vachased yimtza chayyim tzedaka vekhavod
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy Findeth life, prosperity, and honour.
22עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃
ir gibborim ala chakham vayyored oz mivtecha
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
23שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
shomer piv uleshono shomer mitzarot nafsho
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
24זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃
zed yahir letz shemo ose be'evrat zadon
A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, Even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.
25תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
ta'avat atzel temitennu ki-me'anu yadav la'asot
The desire of the slothful killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour.
26כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃
kal-hayyom hit'avva ta'ava vetzaddik yitten velo yachsokh
There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃
zevach resha'im to'eva af ki-vezimma yevi'ennu
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?
28עֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃
ed-kezavim yoved ve'ish shomea lanetzach yedabber
A false witness shall perish; But the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.
29הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא ׀ יכין [יָבִ֬ין] דרכיו [דַּרְכּֽוֹ]׃
he'ez ish rasha' befanav veyashar hu yavin darko
A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.
30אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃
en chakhma ve'en tevuna ve'en etza leneged ADONAI
There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against the LORD.
31ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃
sus mukhan leyom milchama velayhva hatteshu'a
The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory 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.