Proverbs 18 מִשְׁלֵי פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 18 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   לְתַאֲוָהthrough desireיְבַקֵּשׁseeksנִפְרָדhe who separates himselfבְּכׇל־תּוּשִׁיָּהwith all wisdomיִתְגַּלָּע׃he intermeddles

   Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2. 2

   לֹא־יַחְפֹּץhas no delightכְּסִילa foolבִּתְבוּנָהwith understandingכִּיthatאִם־בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹתif in revealing itselfלִבּוֹ׃his heart

   A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

3. 3

   בְּבוֹא־רָשָׁעwhen comes wickedבָּאcameגַם־בּוּזalso contemptוְעִם־קָלוֹןand with shameחֶרְפָּה׃reproach

   When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

4. 4

   מַיִםwaterעֲמֻקִּיםdeepדִּבְרֵיthe words ofפִי־אִישׁthe mouth of a manנַחַלa river ofנֹבֵעַflowingמְקוֹרfountain ofחׇכְמָה׃wisdom

   The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5. 5

   שְׂאֵתto lift upפְּנֵי־רָשָׁעface of wickedלֹא־טוֹבnot goodלְהַטּוֹתto persuadeצַדִּיקrighteousבַּמִּשְׁפָּט׃in the judgment

   It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6. 6

   שִׂפְתֵיthe lips ofכְסִילof a foolיָבֹאוּcomeבְרִיבin strifeוּפִיוand his mouthלְמַהֲלֻמוֹתfor blowsיִקְרָא׃calls

   A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

7. 7

   פִּי־כְסִילthe mouth of a foolמְחִתָּה־לוֹa ruin himוּשְׂפָתָיוand his lipsמוֹקֵשׁa snareנַפְשׁוֹ׃his soul

   A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8. 8

   דִּבְרֵיthe words ofנִרְגָּןa slandererכְּמִתְלַהֲמִיםare as woundsוְהֵםand theyיָרְדוּgo down intoחַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃the chambers of the womb

   The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9. 9

   גַּםalsoמִתְרַפֶּהone who shows himself idleבִמְלַאכְתּוֹin his workאָחa brotherהוּאheלְבַעַלto a master ofמַשְׁחִית׃a waster

   He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

10. 10

    מִגְדַּל־עֹזa strong towerשֵׁםthe name ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDבּוֹ־יָרוּץinto it runsצַדִּיקrighteousוְנִשְׂגָּב׃and he is set on high

    The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11. 11

    הוֹןwealthעָשִׁירrichקִרְיַתa city ofעֻזּוֹhis strengthוּכְחוֹמָהand like a wallנִשְׂגָּבָהhighבְּמַשְׂכִּתוֹ׃in his own conceit

    The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

12. 12

    לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶרbefore destructionיִגְבַּהּis haughtyלֶב־אִישׁthe heart of man ofוְלִפְנֵיand beforeכָבוֹדgloryעֲנָוָה׃humility

    Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

13. 13

    מֵשִׁיבreturningדָּבָרa thingבְּטֶרֶםbeforeיִשְׁמָעhe hearsאִוֶּלֶתfoolishnessהִיא־לוֹit is to himוּכְלִמָּה׃and shame

    He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

14. 14

    רוּחַ־אִישׁspirit of man ofיְכַלְכֵּלwill sustainמַחֲלֵהוּhis sicknessוְרוּחַand spirit ofנְכֵאָהis strickenמִיwhoיִשָּׂאֶנָּה׃will he bear it

    The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15. 15

    לֵבheartנָבוֹןdiscerningיִקְנֶה־דָּעַתhe will acquire knowledgeוְאֹזֶןand the ear ofחֲכָמִיםwiseתְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת׃it seeks knowledge

    The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16. 16

    מַתָּןa giftאָדָםmanיַרְחִיבhe will enlargeלוֹto himוְלִפְנֵיand beforeגְדֹלִיםgreat peopleיַנְחֶנּוּ׃brings him

    A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17. 17

    צַדִּיקrighteousהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstבְּרִיבוֹin his case at law(יבא)[וּבָא־]רֵעֵהוּand his neighbor comesוַחֲקָרוֹ׃and he will examine him

    He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18. 18

    מִדְיָנִיםcontentionsיַשְׁבִּיתit puts an end toהַגּוֹרָלthe lotוּבֵיןand betweenעֲצוּמִיםmightyיַפְרִיד׃shall divide

    The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19. 19

    אָחa brotherנִפְשָׁעoffendedמִקִּרְיַת־עֹזthan a strong city[וּמִדְיָנִים]and contentionsכִּבְרִיחַlike the bar ofאַרְמוֹן׃the fortress of

    A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20. 20

    מִפְּרִיof fruit ofפִי־אִישׁthe mouth of a manתִּשְׂבַּעit will be satisfiedבִּטְנוֹhis bellyתְּבוּאַתthe produce ofשְׂפָתָיוhis lipsיִשְׂבָּע׃he is satisfied

    A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21. 21

    מָוֶתdeathוְחַיִּיםand lifeבְּיַד־לָשׁוֹןin the hand of tongueוְאֹהֲבֶיהָand those who love itיֹאכַלhe shall eatפִּרְיָהּ׃its fruit

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22. 22

    מָצָאfoundאִשָּׁהa womanמָצָאfoundטוֹבgoodוַיָּפֶקand he obtainedרָצוֹןfavorמֵיְהֹוָה׃from the LORD

    Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

23. 23

    תַּחֲנוּנִיםsupplicationsיְדַבֶּר־רָשׁthe poor speaksוְעָשִׁירbut the richיַעֲנֶהhe will answerעַזּוֹת׃roughly

    The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24. 24

    אִישׁa manרֵעִיםfriendsלְהִתְרֹעֵעַmust show himself friendlyוְיֵשׁand there isאֹהֵבlovesדָּבֵקwho cleavesמֵאָח׃from a brother

    A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.