Proverbs 1 מִשְׁלֵי פרק א׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 1 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   מִשְׁלֵיmish/LEthe proverbs ofשְׁלֹמֹהShe/lo/MOSolomonבֶן־דָּוִדven-Da/VIDthe son of DavidמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

   The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2. 2

   לָדַעַתla/DA/atto knowחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוּמוּסָרu/mu/SARand instructionלְהָבִיןle/ha/VINto understandאִמְרֵיim/REthe words ofבִינָה׃vi/NAunderstanding

   To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3. 3

   לָקַחַתla/KA/chatto receiveמוּסַרmu/SARthe instruction ofהַשְׂכֵּלhas/KELwise dealingצֶדֶקTSE/dekrighteousnessוּמִשְׁפָּטu/mish/PATand justiceוּמֵשָׁרִים׃u/me/sha/RIMand equity

   To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4. 4

   לָתֵתla/TETto giveלִפְתָאיִםlif/ta/YIMto the simpleעׇרְמָהor/MAprudenceלְנַעַרle/NA/arto a youthדַּעַתDA/atknowledgeוּמְזִמָּה׃u/me/zim/MAand discretion

   To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5. 5

   יִשְׁמַעyish/MAlet hearחָכָםcha/KHAMthe wiseוְיוֹסֶףve/YO/sefand increaseלֶקַחLE/kachlearningוְנָבוֹןve/na/VONand the man of understandingתַּחְבֻּלוֹתtach/bu/LOTguidanceיִקְנֶה׃yik/NEwill acquire

   A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6. 6

   לְהָבִיןle/ha/VINto understandמָשָׁלma/SHALa proverbוּמְלִיצָהu/me/li/TSAand a figureדִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofחֲכָמִיםcha/kha/MIMthe wiseוְחִידֹתָם׃ve/chi/do/TAMand their dark sayings

   To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7. 7

   יִרְאַתyir/ATthe fear ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDרֵאשִׁיתre/SHITthe beginning ofדָּעַתDA/atknowledgeחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוּמוּסָרu/mu/SARand instructionאֱוִילִיםe/vi/LIMfoolsבָּזוּ׃BA/zudespise

   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8. 8

   שְׁמַעshe/MAhearבְּנִיbe/NImy sonמוּסַרmu/SARthe instruction ofאָבִיךָa/VI/khayour fatherוְאַל־תִּטֹּשׁve/AL-tit/TOSHand forsake notתּוֹרַתto/RATthe teaching ofאִמֶּךָ׃im/ME/khayour mother

   My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9. 9

   כִּיkiforלִוְיַתliv/YATa garland ofחֵןchenfavorהֵםhemthey areלְרֹאשֶׁךָle/ro/SHE/khafor your headוַעֲנָקִיםva/a/na/KIMand chainsלְגַרְגְּרֹתֶךָ׃le/gar/ge/ro/te/KHAabout your neck

   For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10. 10

    בְּנִיbe/NImy sonאִם־יְפַתּוּךָim-ye/fat/TU/khaif they will entice youחַטָּאִיםchat/ta/IMsinnersאַל־תֹּבֵא׃al-to/VEdo not consent

    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11. 11

    אִם־יֹאמְרוּim-yo/me/RUif they shall sayלְכָהle/KHAcomeאִתָּנוּit/TA/nuwith usנֶאֶרְבָהne/er/VAlet us lie in waitלְדָםle/DAMfor bloodנִצְפְּנָהnits/pe/NAlet us lie hiddenלְנָקִיle/na/KIfor the innocentחִנָּם׃chin/NAMwithout cause

    If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12. 12

    נִבְלָעֵםniv/la/EMlet us swallow themכִּשְׁאוֹלKish/OLlike Sheolחַיִּיםchay/YIMaliveוּתְמִימִיםu/te/mi/MIMand blamelessכְּיוֹרְדֵיke/YOR/deas those who go down toבוֹר׃vorthe pit

    Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13. 13

    כׇּל־הוֹןkol-honall wealthיָקָרya/KARpreciousנִמְצָאnim/TSAwe will findנְמַלֵּאne/mal/LEwe will fillבָתֵּינוּvat/TE/nuour housesשָׁלָל׃sha/LALthe spoil

    We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14. 14

    גּוֹרָלְךָgo/RAL/khayour lotתַּפִּילtap/PILcastבְּתוֹכֵנוּbe/to/KHE/nuamong usכִּיסkisa bagאֶחָדe/CHADoneיִהְיֶהyih/YEthere will beלְכֻלָּנוּ׃le/khul/LA/nuto all of us

    Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15. 15

    בְּנִיbe/NImy sonאַל־תֵּלֵךְal-te/LEKHdo not walkבְּדֶרֶךְbe/DE/rekhin the wayאִתָּםit/TAMwith themמְנַעme/NArestrainרַגְלְךָrag/le/KHAyour footמִנְּתִיבָתָם׃min/ne/ti/va/TAMfrom their pathway

    My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16. 16

    כִּיkiforרַגְלֵיהֶםrag/le/HEMtheir feetלָרַעla/RAto evilיָרוּצוּya/RU/tsuthey runוִימַהֲרוּvi/ma/ha/RUand they hurryלִשְׁפׇּךְ־דָּם׃lish/POKH-damto shedding blood

    For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17. 17

    כִּי־חִנָּםki-chin/NAMfor in vainמְזֹרָהme/zo/RAis spread outהָרָשֶׁתha/RA/shetthe netבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofכׇּל־בַּעַלkol-BA/alany owner ofכָּנָף׃ka/NAFwing

    Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18. 18

    וְהֵםve/HEMand theyלְדָמָםle/da/MAMfor their own bloodיֶאֱרֹבוּye/e/RO/vuthey lie in waitיִצְפְּנוּyits/pe/NUthey lie hiddenלְנַפְשֹׁתָם׃le/naf/sho/TAMfor their own lives

    And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19. 19

    כֵּןkenthusאׇרְחוֹתor/CHOTthe paths ofכׇּל־בֹּצֵעַkol-BO/tse/aeveryone greedy forבָּצַעBA/tsagainאֶת־נֶפֶשׁet-NE/feshthe life ofבְּעָלָיוbe/a/LAYVits ownersיִקָּח׃yik/KACHit takes

    So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20. 20

    חׇכְמוֹתchokh/MOTwisdomבַּחוּץba/CHUTSin the streetתָּרֹנָּהta/RON/nacries aloudבָּרְחֹבוֹתba/re/cho/VOTin the squaresתִּתֵּןtit/TENshe uttersקוֹלָהּ׃ko/LAher voice

    Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21. 21

    בְּרֹאשׁbe/ROSHin the top ofהֹמִיּוֹתho/miy/YOTthe noisy streetsתִּקְרָאtik/RAshe criesבְּפִתְחֵיbe/fit/CHEat the entrances ofשְׁעָרִיםshe/a/RIMthe gatesבָּעִירba/IRin the cityאֲמָרֶיהָa/ma/RE/haher wordsתֹאמֵר׃to/MERshe utters

    She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22. 22

    עַד־מָתַיad-ma/TAYhow longפְּתָיִםpe/TA/yimO simple onesתְּאֵהֲבוּ־פֶתִיte/e/ha/VU-FE/tiwill you love simplicityוְלֵצִיםve/le/TSIMand scoffersלָצוֹןla/TSONscoffingחָמְדוּcha/me/DUdelightלָהֶםla/HEMfor themselvesוּכְסִילִיםu/khe/si/LIMand foolsיִשְׂנְאוּ־דָעַת׃yis/ne/U-DA/atwill they hate knowledge

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23. 23

    תָּשׁוּבוּta/SHU/vuturnלְתוֹכַחְתִּיle/to/khach/TIto my rebukeהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdאַבִּיעָהab/BI/aI will pour forthלָכֶםla/KHEMon youרוּחִיru/CHImy spiritאוֹדִיעָהo/DI/aI will make knownדְבָרַיde/va/RAYmy wordsאֶתְכֶם׃et/KHEMto you

    Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24. 24

    יַעַןYA/anbecauseקָרָאתִיka/RA/tiI calledוַתְּמָאֵנוּvat/te/ma/E/nuand you refusedנָטִיתִיna/TI/tiI stretched outיָדִיya/DImy handוְאֵיןve/ENand there is noמַקְשִׁיב׃mak/SHIVwho paid attention

    Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25. 25

    וַתִּפְרְעוּvat/tif/re/Uand you ignoredכׇל־עֲצָתִיkhol-a/tsa/TIall my counselוְתוֹכַחְתִּיve/to/khach/TIand my rebukeלֹאlonotאֲבִיתֶם׃a/vi/TEMwould you have

    But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26. 26

    גַּם־אֲנִיgam-a/NIalso Iבְּאֵידְכֶםbe/e/de/KHEMat your calamityאֶשְׂחָקes/CHAKI will laughאֶלְעַגel/AGI will mockבְּבֹאbe/VOwhen comesפַחְדְּכֶם׃fach/de/KHEMyour dread

    I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27. 27

    בְּבֹאbe/VOwhen comes[כְשׁוֹאָה]khe/sho/Alike devastationפַּחְדְּכֶםpach/de/KHEMyour dreadוְאֵידְכֶםve/e/de/KHEMand your calamityכְּסוּפָהke/su/FAlike a storm windיֶאֱתֶהye/e/TEcomesבְּבֹאbe/VOwhen comesעֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMover youצָרָהtsa/RAafflictionוְצוּקָה׃ve/tsu/KAand distress

    When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28. 28

    אָזazthenיִקְרָאֻנְנִיyik/ra/un/NIthey will call to meוְלֹאve/LOand notאֶעֱנֶהe/e/NEwill I answerיְשַׁחֲרֻנְנִיye/sha/cha/RUN/nithey will earnestly seek meוְלֹאve/LOand notיִמְצָאֻנְנִי׃yim/tsa/UN/nithey will find me

    Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29. 29

    תַּחַתTA/chatbecauseכִּי־שָׂנְאוּki-SAN/uthat they hatedדָעַתDA/atknowledgeוְיִרְאַתve/yir/ATand of the fear ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלֹאlonotבָחָרוּ׃va/CHA/ruthey chose

    For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30. 30

    לֹא־אָבוּlo-a/VUthey would have none ofלַעֲצָתִיla/a/tsa/TIto my counselנָאֲצוּna/a/TSUthey spurnedכׇּל־תּוֹכַחְתִּי׃kol-to/khach/TIall my rebuke

    They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31. 31

    וְיֹאכְלוּve/yo/khe/LUso they will eatמִפְּרִיmip/pe/RIof the fruit ofדַרְכָּםdar/KAMtheir own wayוּמִמֹּעֲצֹתֵיהֶםu/mim/mo/a/tso/te/HEMand from their own schemesיִשְׂבָּעוּ׃yis/BA/uthey will be satisfied

    Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32. 32

    כִּיkiforמְשׁוּבַתme/shu/VATthe turning away ofפְּתָיִםpe/TA/yimthe simpleתַּהַרְגֵםta/har/GEMwill kill themוְשַׁלְוַתve/shal/VATand the ease ofכְּסִילִיםke/si/LIMfoolsתְּאַבְּדֵם׃te/ab/be/DEMit will destroy them

    For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33. 33

    וְשֹׁמֵעַve/sho/ME/abut whoever listensלִיlito meיִשְׁכׇּן־בֶּטַחyish/KON-BE/tachshall dwell safelyוְשַׁאֲנַןve/sha/a/NANand will be at easeמִפַּחַדmip/PA/chadfrom fearרָעָה׃ra/Aof evil

    But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.