Proverbs 16 מִשְׁלֵי פרק ט״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 16 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   לְאָדָםle/a/DAMto man belongמַעַרְכֵי־לֵבma/ar/KHE-levthe preparations of the heartוּמֵיְהֹוָהu/mey/ho/VAand from the LORDמַעֲנֵהma/a/NEthe answer ofלָשׁוֹן׃la/SHONthe tongue

   The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

2. 2

   כׇּל־דַּרְכֵי־אִישׁkol-dar/KHE-ishall the ways of a manזַךְzakhare pureבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his own eyesוְתֹכֵןve/to/KHENbut weighsרוּחוֹתru/CHOTthe spiritsיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

3. 3

   גֹּלgolcommitאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDמַעֲשֶׂיךָma/a/SE/khayour worksוְיִכֹּנוּve/yik/KO/nuand will be establishedמַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ׃mach/she/vo/TE/khayour plans

   Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

4. 4

   כֹּלkolallפָּעַלpa/ALhas madeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלַמַּעֲנֵהוּlam/ma/a/NE/hufor its purposeוְגַם־רָשָׁעve/GAM-ra/SHAeven the wickedלְיוֹםle/YOMfor the day ofרָעָה׃ra/Aevil

   The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5. 5

   תּוֹעֲבַתto/a/VATan abomination toיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDכׇּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵבkol-ge/VA-leveveryone proud in heartיָדyadhandלְיָדle/YADto handלֹאlonotיִנָּקֶה׃yin/na/KEhe will go unpunished

   Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6. 6

   בְּחֶסֶדbe/CHE/sedby kindnessוֶאֱמֶתve/e/METand truthיְכֻפַּרye/khup/PARis atoned forעָוֺןa/VONiniquityוּבְיִרְאַתu/ve/yir/ATand by the fear ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDסוּרsurone turnsמֵרָע׃me/RAfrom evil

   By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

7. 7

   בִּרְצוֹתbir/TSOTwhen pleasesיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDדַּרְכֵי־אִישׁdar/KHE-ishthe ways of a manגַּם־אוֹיְבָיוgam-oy/VAYVeven his enemiesיַשְׁלִםyash/LIMHe makes at peaceאִתּוֹ׃it/TOwith him

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

8. 8

   טוֹב־מְעַטtov-me/ATbetter is a littleבִּצְדָקָהbits/da/KAin righteousnessמֵרֹבme/ROVthan greatתְּבוּאוֹתte/vu/OTincomeבְּלֹאbe/LOwithoutמִשְׁפָּט׃mish/PATjustice

   Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

9. 9

   לֵבlevthe heart ofאָדָםa/DAMa manיְחַשֵּׁבye/chash/SHEVplansדַּרְכּוֹdar/KOhis wayוַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDיָכִיןya/KHINestablishesצַעֲדוֹ׃tsa/a/DOhis steps

   A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

10. 10

    קֶסֶםKE/semdivinationעַל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶלֶךְal-sif/TE-ME/lekhis on the lips of a kingבְּמִשְׁפָּטbe/mish/PATin judgmentלֹאlonotיִמְעַל־פִּיו׃yim/AL-pivdoes his mouth transgress

    A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11. 11

    פֶּלֶסPE/lesa balanceוּמֹאזְנֵיu/mo/ze/NEand scales ofמִשְׁפָּטmish/PATjusticeלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaiare the LORD'sמַעֲשֵׂהוּma/a/SE/huHis workכׇּל־אַבְנֵי־כִיס׃kol-av/NE-khisare all the weights of the bag

    A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

12. 12

    תּוֹעֲבַתto/a/VATan abomination toמְלָכִיםme/la/KHIMkingsעֲשׂוֹתa/SOTto doרֶשַׁעRE/shawickednessכִּיkiforבִצְדָקָהvits/da/KAin righteousnessיִכּוֹןyik/KONshall it standכִּסֵּא׃kis/SEa throne

    It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

13. 13

    רְצוֹןre/TSONthe delight ofמְלָכִיםme/la/KHIMkingsשִׂפְתֵי־צֶדֶקsif/TE-TSE/dekthe lips of righteousnessוְדֹבֵרve/do/VERand he who speaksיְשָׁרִיםye/sha/RIMwhat is rightיֶאֱהָב׃ye/e/HAVhe loves

    Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14. 14

    חֲמַת־מֶלֶךְcha/MAT-ME/lekhthe wrath of a kingמַלְאֲכֵי־מָוֶתmal/a/KHE-MA/vetis messengers of deathוְאִישׁve/ISHand a manחָכָםcha/KHAMwiseיְכַפְּרֶנָּה׃ye/khap/pe/REN/nawill pacify it

    The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

15. 15

    בְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶלֶךְbe/OR-pe/NE-ME/lekhin the light of a king's faceחַיִּיםchay/YIMlifeוּרְצוֹנוֹu/re/tso/NOand his favorכְּעָבke/AVlike a cloud ofמַלְקוֹשׁ׃mal/KOSHspring rain

    In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16. 16

    קְנֹה־חׇכְמָהke/NO-chokh/MAto get wisdomמַה־טּוֹבma-tovhow much betterמֵחָרוּץme/cha/RUTSmore than goldוּקְנוֹתu/ke/NOTand to getבִּינָהbi/NAunderstandingנִבְחָרniv/CHARis to be chosenמִכָּסֶף׃mik/KA/sefmore than silver

    How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17. 17

    מְסִלַּתme/sil/LATthe highway ofיְשָׁרִיםye/sha/RIMthe uprightסוּרsuris to turnמֵרָעme/RAfrom evilשֹׁמֵרsho/MERhe who guardsנַפְשׁוֹnaf/SHOhis soulנֹצֵרno/TSERwatchesדַּרְכּוֹ׃dar/KOhis way

    The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18. 18

    לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶרlif/NE-SHE/verbefore destruction isגָּאוֹןga/ONprideוְלִפְנֵיve/lif/NEand beforeכִשָּׁלוֹןkhish/sha/LONstumblingגֹּבַהּGO/vaa haughtyרוּחַ׃RU/achspirit

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19. 19

    טוֹבtovbetterשְׁפַל־רוּחַshe/FAL-RU/achto be of a lowly spiritאֶת־[עֲנָוִים]et-a/na/VIMwith the humble(עניים)nayayamמֵחַלֵּקme/chal/LEKthan to divideשָׁלָלsha/LALthe spoilאֶת־גֵּאִים׃et-ge/IMwith the proud

    Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20. 20

    מַשְׂכִּילmas/KILhe who heedsעַל־דָּבָרal-da/VARin a matterיִמְצָא־טוֹבyim/TSA-tovshall find goodוּבוֹטֵחַu/vo/TE/achand he who trustsבַּיהֹוָהba-Adonaiin the LORDאַשְׁרָיו׃ash/RAYVhow blessed is he

    He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

21. 21

    לַחֲכַם־לֵבla/cha/KHAM-levof the wise of heartיִקָּרֵאyik/ka/REshall be calledנָבוֹןna/VONdiscerningוּמֶתֶקu/ME/tekand sweetness ofשְׂפָתַיִםse/fa/TA/yimlipsיֹסִיףyo/SIFincreasesלֶקַח׃LE/kachlearning

    The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22. 22

    מְקוֹרme/KORfountain ofחַיִּיםchay/YIMlifeשֵׂכֶלSE/khelinsightבְּעָלָיוbe/a/LAYVto its ownerוּמוּסַרu/mu/SARbut the instruction ofאֱוִלִיםe/vi/LIMfoolsאִוֶּלֶת׃iv/VE/letis folly

    Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

23. 23

    לֵבlevthe heart ofחָכָםcha/KHAMthe wiseיַשְׂכִּילyas/KILmakes prudentפִּיהוּPI/huhis mouthוְעַל־שְׂפָתָיוve/AL-se/fa/TAYVand upon his lipsיֹסִיףyo/SIFhe will increaseלֶקַח׃LE/kachlearning

    The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24. 24

    צוּף־דְּבַשׁtsuf-de/VASHa honeycombאִמְרֵי־נֹעַםim/RE-NO/ampleasant wordsמָתוֹקma/TOKsweetלַנֶּפֶשׁlan/NE/feshto the soulוּמַרְפֵּאu/mar/PEand healthלָעָצֶם׃la/A/tsemto the bones

    Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25. 25

    יֵשׁyeshthere isדֶּרֶךְDE/rekha wayיָשָׁרya/SHARthat seems rightלִפְנֵי־אִישׁlif/NE-ishto a manוְאַחֲרִיתָהּve/a/cha/ri/TAbut its endדַּרְכֵי־מָוֶת׃dar/KHE-MA/vetis the ways of death

    There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

26. 26

    נֶפֶשׁNE/feshthe appetite ofעָמֵלa/MELa laborerעָמְלָהAM/laworksלּוֹlofor himכִּי־אָכַףki-a/KHAFfor urgesעָלָיוa/LAYVhim onפִּיהוּ׃PI/huhis mouth

    He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

27. 27

    אִישׁisha man ofבְּלִיַּעַלbe/liy/YA/alworthlessnessכֹּרֶהko/REdigs upרָעָהra/Aevilוְעַל־[שְׂפָתוֹ]ve/AL-se/fa/TOand upon his lips(שפתיו)shafatayavכְּאֵשׁke/ESHis like fireצָרָבֶת׃tsa/RA/vetscorching

    An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28. 28

    אִישׁisha man ofתַּהְפֻּכוֹתtah/pu/KHOTperversityיְשַׁלַּחye/shal/LACHspreadsמָדוֹןma/DONstrifeוְנִרְגָּןve/nir/GANand a slandererמַפְרִידmaf/RIDseparatesאַלּוּף׃al/LUFclose friends

    A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29. 29

    אִישׁisha man ofחָמָסcha/MASviolenceיְפַתֶּהye/fat/TEenticesרֵעֵהוּre/E/huhis neighborוְהוֹלִיכוֹve/ho/li/KHOand he leads himבְּדֶרֶךְbe/DE/rekhin a wayלֹא־טוֹב׃lo-tovnot good

    A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30. 30

    עֹצֶהo/TSEhe who winksעֵינָיוe/NAYVhis eyesלַחְשֹׁבlach/SHOVto deviseתַּהְפֻּכוֹתtah/pu/KHOTperverse thingsקֹרֵץko/RETShe who pursesשְׂפָתָיוse/fa/TAYVhis lipsכִּלָּהkil/LAbrings aboutרָעָה׃ra/Aevil

    He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31. 31

    עֲטֶרֶתa/TE/reta crown ofתִּפְאֶרֶתtif/E/retgloryשֵׂיבָהse/VAis gray hairבְּדֶרֶךְbe/DE/rekhin the way ofצְדָקָהtse/da/KArighteousnessתִּמָּצֵא׃tim/ma/TSEit is found

    The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

32. 32

    טוֹבtovbetter isאֶרֶךְE/rekhslowאַפַּיִםap/PA/yimto angerמִגִּבּוֹרmig/gib/BORthan the mightyוּמֹשֵׁלu/mo/SHELand he who rulesבְּרוּחוֹbe/ru/CHOhis spiritמִלֹּכֵדmil/lo/KHEDthan he who takesעִיר׃ira city

    He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33. 33

    בַּחֵיקba/CHEKin the bosomיוּטַלyu/TALis castאֶת־הַגּוֹרָלet-hag/go/RALthe lotוּמֵיְהֹוָהu/mey/ho/VAbut from the LORDכׇּל־מִשְׁפָּטוֹ׃kol-mish/pa/TOall its disposing

    The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.