Proverbs 17 מִשְׁלֵי פרק י״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 17 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   טוֹבtovbetter isפַּתpata morsel ofחֲרֵבָהcha/re/VAdryוְשַׁלְוָה־בָהּve/shal/VA-vaand quiet with itמִבַּיִתmib/BA/yitthan a houseמָלֵאma/LEfull ofזִבְחֵי־רִיב׃ziv/CHE-rivsacrifices of contention

   Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

2. 2

   עֶבֶד־מַשְׂכִּילE/ved-mas/KILa wise servantיִמְשֹׁלyim/SHOLwill ruleבְּבֵןbe/VENover a sonמֵבִישׁme/VISHwho causes shameוּבְתוֹךְu/ve/TOKHand amongאַחִיםa/CHIMbrothersיַחֲלֹקya/cha/LOKwill shareנַחֲלָה׃na/cha/LAthe inheritance

   A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

3. 3

   מַצְרֵףmats/REFa crucibleלַכֶּסֶףlak/KE/sefis for silverוְכוּרve/KHURand a smelting furnaceלַזָּהָבlaz/za/HAVfor goldוּבֹחֵןu/vo/CHENbut testsלִבּוֹתlib/BOTthe hearts ofיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

4. 4

   מֵרַעme/RAan evildoerמַקְשִׁיבmak/SHIVgives heedעַל־שְׂפַת־אָוֶןal-se/FAT-A/vento the lips of iniquityשֶׁקֶרSHE/kera liarמֵזִיןme/ZINgives earעַל־לְשׁוֹןal-le/SHONto a tongue ofהַוֺּת׃hav/VOTdestruction

   A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

5. 5

   לֹעֵגlo/EGone who mocksלָרָשׁla/RASHthe poorחֵרֵףche/REFtauntsעֹשֵׂהוּO/SE/huhis Makerשָׂמֵחַsa/ME/achhe who is gladלְאֵידle/EDat calamityלֹאlonotיִנָּקֶה׃yin/na/KEhe will go unpunished

   Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6. 6

   עֲטֶרֶתa/TE/retthe crown ofזְקֵנִיםze/ke/NIMeldersבְּנֵיbe/NEare the sons ofבָנִיםva/NIMsonsוְתִפְאֶרֶתve/tif/E/retand the glory ofבָּנִיםba/NIMsonsאֲבוֹתָם׃a/vo/TAMare their fathers

   Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

7. 7

   לֹא־נָאוָהlo-na/VAis not fittingלְנָבָלle/na/VALto a foolשְׂפַת־יֶתֶרse/FAT-YE/terexcellent speechאַףafhow much lessכִּי־לְנָדִיבki-le/na/DIVfor a princeשְׂפַת־שָׁקֶר׃se/FAT-SHA/kerthe lip of lying

   Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

8. 8

   אֶבֶן־חֵןE/ven-chena stone of graceהַשֹּׁחַדhash/SHO/chadis a bribeבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofבְעָלָיוve/a/LAYVits ownersאֶל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרel-kol-a/SHERwhereverיִפְנֶהyif/NEit turnsיַשְׂכִּיל׃yas/KILit prospers

   A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9. 9

   מְכַסֶּה־פֶּשַׁעme/khas/SE-PE/shahe who covers a transgressionמְבַקֵּשׁme/vak/KESHseeksאַהֲבָהa/ha/VAloveוְשֹׁנֶהve/sho/NEbut he who repeatsבְדָבָרve/da/VARa matterמַפְרִידmaf/RIDseparatesאַלּוּף׃al/LUFfriends

   He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

10. 10

    תֵּחַתTE/chatgoes deeperגְּעָרָהge/a/RAa rebukeבְמֵבִיןve/me/VINin one who understandsמֵהַכּוֹתme/hak/KOTthan strikingכְּסִילke/SILa foolמֵאָה׃me/Aa hundred

    A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

11. 11

    אַךְ־מְרִיakh-me/RIonly rebellionיְבַקֶּשׁ־רָעye/vak/KESH-raan evil man seeksוּמַלְאָךְu/mal/AKHso a messengerאַכְזָרִיakh/za/RIcruelיְשֻׁלַּח־בּוֹ׃ye/shul/LACH-bohe will be sent against him

    An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12. 12

    פָּגוֹשׁpa/GOSHlet meetדֹּבdova bearשַׁכּוּלshak/KULrobbed of her cubsבְּאִישׁbe/ISHa manוְאַל־כְּסִילve/AL-ke/SILrather than a foolבְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃be/iv/val/TOin his foolishness

    Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13. 13

    מֵשִׁיבme/SHIVhe who rewardsרָעָהra/AevilתַּחַתTA/chatforטוֹבָהto/VAgoodלֹא־[תָמוּשׁ]lo-ta/MUSHwill not departרָעָהra/Aevilמִבֵּיתוֹ׃mib/be/TOfrom his house

    Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14. 14

    פּוֹטֵרPO/terone who lets looseמַיִםMA/yimwater isרֵאשִׁיתre/SHITthe beginning ofמָדוֹןma/DONstrifeוְלִפְנֵיve/lif/NEand beforeהִתְגַּלַּעhit/gal/LAit has broken outהָרִיבha/RIVthe quarrelנְטוֹשׁ׃ne/TOSHleave off

    The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15. 15

    מַצְדִּיקmats/DIKone who justifiesרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedוּמַרְשִׁיעַu/mar/SHI/aand he who condemnsצַדִּיקtsad/DIKthe righteousתּוֹעֲבַתto/a/VATan abomination toיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDגַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם׃gam-she/ne/HEMboth of them

    He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

16. 16

    לָמָּה־זֶּהLAM/ma-zewhy thisמְחִירme/CHIRa priceבְּיַד־כְּסִילbe/YAD-ke/SILin the hand of a foolלִקְנוֹתlik/NOTto getחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוְלֶב־אָיִן׃ve/LEV-A/yinwhen he has no heart

    Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17. 17

    בְּכׇל־עֵתbe/KHOL-etat all timesאֹהֵבo/HEVlovesהָרֵעַha/RE/aa friendוְאָחve/ACHand a brotherלְצָרָהle/tsa/RAfor adversityיִוָּלֵד׃yiv/va/LEDhe shall be born

    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

18. 18

    אָדָםa/DAMmanחֲסַר־לֵבcha/SAR-levlacking senseתּוֹקֵעַto/KE/astrikesכָּףkafa palmעֹרֵבo/REVand becomes suretyעֲרֻבָּהa/rub/BAa pledgeלִפְנֵיlif/NEin the presence ofרֵעֵהוּ׃re/E/huhis neighbor

    A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19. 19

    אֹהֵבo/HEVhe lovesפֶּשַׁעPE/shatransgressionאֹהֵבo/HEVwho lovesמַצָּהmats/TSAstrifeמַגְבִּיהַּmag/BI/ahhe who raisesפִּתְחוֹpit/CHOhis entranceמְבַקֶּשׁ־שָׁבֶר׃me/vak/KESH-SHA/verseeks destruction

    He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20. 20

    עִקֶּשׁ־לֵבik/KESH-levthe crooked of heartלֹאlonotיִמְצָא־טוֹבyim/TSA-tovshall find goodוְנֶהְפָּךְve/neh/PAKHand he who is perverseבִּלְשׁוֹנוֹbil/sho/NOwith his tongueיִפּוֹלyip/POLshall fallבְּרָעָה׃be/ra/Ain evil

    He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21. 21

    יֹלֵדyo/LEDhe who begetsכְּסִילke/SILa foolלְתוּגָהle/TU/gadoes so to griefלוֹloto himselfוְלֹא־יִשְׂמַחve/LO-yis/MACHand has no joyאֲבִיa/VIthe father ofנָבָל׃na/VALa fool

    He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

22. 22

    לֵבleva heartשָׂמֵחַsa/ME/achgladיֵיטִיבye/TIVdoes goodגֵּהָהge/HAlike medicineוְרוּחַve/RU/achbut a spiritנְכֵאָהne/khe/Abrokenתְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּרֶם׃te/yab/BESH-GA/remit dries up bone

    A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23. 23

    שֹׁחַדSHO/chada bribeמֵחֵקme/CHEKfrom the bosom ofרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedיִקָּחyik/KACHtakesלְהַטּוֹתle/hat/TOTto pervertאׇרְחוֹתor/CHOTthe paths ofמִשְׁפָּט׃mish/PATjudgment

    A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

24. 24

    אֶת־פְּנֵיet-pe/NEin the presence ofמֵבִיןme/VINhim who understandsחׇכְמָהchokh/MAis wisdomוְעֵינֵיve/e/NEand the eyes ofכְסִילkhe/SILa foolבִּקְצֵה־אָרֶץ׃bik/TSE-A/retsin the ends of the earth

    Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25. 25

    כַּעַסKA/asangerלְאָבִיוle/a/VIVto his fatherבֵּןbena sonכְּסִילke/SILfoolishוּמֶמֶרu/ME/merand bitternessלְיוֹלַדְתּוֹ׃le/yo/lad/TOto her who bore him

    A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

26. 26

    גַּםgamalsoעֲנוֹשׁa/NOSHto punishלַצַּדִּיקlats/tsad/DIKthe righteousלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodלְהַכּוֹתle/hak/KOTto strikeנְדִיבִיםne/di/VIMthe noblesעַל־יֹשֶׁר׃al-YO/sherfor uprightness

    Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27. 27

    חוֹשֵׂךְcho/SEKHone who restrainsאֲמָרָיוa/ma/RAYVhis wordsיוֹדֵעַyo/DE/aknowsדָּעַתDA/atknowledge(וקר)vakar[יְקַר־]רוּחַye/KAR-RU/achis of a cool spiritאִישׁisha man ofתְּבוּנָה׃te/vu/NAunderstanding

    He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28. 28

    גַּםgamalsoאֱוִילe/VILa foolמַחֲרִישׁma/cha/RISHwho keeps silentחָכָםcha/KHAMis wiseיֵחָשֵׁבye/cha/SHEVis consideredאֹטֵםo/TEMhe who closesשְׂפָתָיוse/fa/TAYVhis lipsנָבוֹן׃na/VONdiscerning

    Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.