Proverbs 18 מִשְׁלֵי פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 18 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   לְתַאֲוָהle/ta/a/VAfor desireיְבַקֵּשׁye/vak/KESHseeksנִפְרָדnif/RADhe who separates himselfבְּכׇל־תּוּשִׁיָּהbe/KHOL-tu/shiy/YAagainst all sound wisdomיִתְגַּלָּע׃yit/gal/LAhe breaks out

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

2. 2

   לֹא־יַחְפֹּץlo-yach/POTShas no delightכְּסִילke/SILa foolבִּתְבוּנָהbit/vu/NAin understandingכִּיkibutאִם־בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹתim-be/hit/gal/LOTonly in revealingלִבּוֹ׃lib/BOhis heart

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

3. 3

   בְּבוֹא־רָשָׁעbe/VO-ra/SHAwhen the wicked comesבָּאbacomesגַם־בּוּזgam-buzalso contemptוְעִם־קָלוֹןve/IM-ka/LONand with dishonorחֶרְפָּה׃cher/PAreproach

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

4. 4

   מַיִםMA/yimare watersעֲמֻקִּיםa/muk/KIMdeepדִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofפִי־אִישׁfi-ishthe mouth of a manנַחַלNA/chala streamנֹבֵעַno/VE/agushingמְקוֹרme/KORthe fountain ofחׇכְמָה׃chokh/MAwisdom

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

5. 5

   שְׂאֵתse/ETto lift upפְּנֵי־רָשָׁעpe/NE-ra/SHAthe face of the wickedלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodלְהַטּוֹתle/hat/TOTto turn asideצַדִּיקtsad/DIKthe righteousבַּמִּשְׁפָּט׃bam/mish/PATin judgment

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

6. 6

   שִׂפְתֵיsif/TEthe lips ofכְסִילkhe/SILa foolיָבֹאוּya/VO/uenterבְרִיבve/RIVinto strifeוּפִיוu/FIVand his mouthלְמַהֲלֻמוֹתle/ma/ha/lu/MOTfor blowsיִקְרָא׃yik/RAcalls

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

7. 7

   פִּי־כְסִילpi-khe/SILthe mouth of a foolמְחִתָּה־לוֹme/chit/TA-lois a ruin to himוּשְׂפָתָיוu/se/fa/TAYVand his lipsמוֹקֵשׁmo/KESHare a snare toנַפְשׁוֹ׃naf/SHOhis soul

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

8. 8

   דִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofנִרְגָּןnir/GANa whispererכְּמִתְלַהֲמִיםke/mit/la/ha/MIMare as woundsוְהֵםve/HEMand theyיָרְדוּya/re/DUgo down intoחַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃chad/RE-VA/tenthe chambers of the belly

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

9. 9

   גַּםgamalsoמִתְרַפֶּהmit/rap/PEhe who is slackבִמְלַאכְתּוֹvim/lakh/TOin his workאָחachis a brotherהוּאhuheלְבַעַלle/VA/alto the master ofמַשְׁחִית׃mash/CHITdestruction

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

10. 10

    מִגְדַּל־עֹזmig/DAL-oza strong towerשֵׁםshemthe name ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבּוֹ־יָרוּץbo-ya/RUTSinto it runsצַדִּיקtsad/DIKthe righteousוְנִשְׂגָּב׃ve/nis/GAVand he is set on high

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

11. 11

    הוֹןhonthe wealth ofעָשִׁירa/SHIRthe richקִרְיַתkir/YATis the city ofעֻזּוֹuz/ZOhis strengthוּכְחוֹמָהu/khe/cho/MAand like a wallנִשְׂגָּבָהnis/ga/VAhighבְּמַשְׂכִּתוֹ׃be/mas/ki/TOin his imagination

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

12. 12

    לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶרlif/NE-SHE/verbefore destructionיִגְבַּהּyig/BAis haughtyלֶב־אִישׁlev-ishthe heart of a manוְלִפְנֵיve/lif/NEand beforeכָבוֹדkha/VODhonorעֲנָוָה׃a/na/VAis humility

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

13. 13

    מֵשִׁיבme/SHIVhe who answersדָּבָרda/VARa matterבְּטֶרֶםbe/TE/rembeforeיִשְׁמָעyish/MAhe hearsאִוֶּלֶתiv/VE/letfollyהִיא־לוֹhi-loit is to himוּכְלִמָּה׃u/khe/lim/MAand shame

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

14. 14

    רוּחַ־אִישׁRU/ach-ishthe spirit of a manיְכַלְכֵּלye/khal/KELwill sustainמַחֲלֵהוּma/cha/LE/huhis sicknessוְרוּחַve/RU/achbut a spiritנְכֵאָהne/khe/Abrokenמִיmiwhoיִשָּׂאֶנָּה׃yis/sa/EN/nacan bear it

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

15. 15

    לֵבlevthe heart ofנָבוֹןna/VONthe discerningיִקְנֶה־דָּעַתyik/NE-DA/atacquires knowledgeוְאֹזֶןve/O/zenand the ear ofחֲכָמִיםcha/kha/MIMthe wiseתְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת׃te/vak/KESH-DA/atseeks knowledge

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

16. 16

    מַתָּןmat/TANthe gift ofאָדָםa/DAMa manיַרְחִיבyar/CHIVmakes roomלוֹlofor himוְלִפְנֵיve/lif/NEand beforeגְדֹלִיםge/do/LIMthe greatיַנְחֶנּוּ׃yan/CHEN/nubrings him

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

17. 17

    צַדִּיקtsad/DIKseems rightהָרִאשׁוֹןha/ri/SHONthe firstבְּרִיבוֹbe/ri/VOin his case(יבא)yav[וּבָא־]רֵעֵהוּu/VA-re/e/HUthen his neighbor comesוַחֲקָרוֹ׃va/cha/ka/ROand examines him

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

18. 18

    מִדְיָנִיםmid/ya/NIMquarrelsיַשְׁבִּיתyash/BITputs an end toהַגּוֹרָלhag/go/RALthe lotוּבֵיןu/VENand betweenעֲצוּמִיםa/tsu/MIMthe mightyיַפְרִיד׃yaf/RIDseparates

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

19. 19

    אָחacha brotherנִפְשָׁעnif/SHAoffendedמִקִּרְיַת־עֹזmik/kir/YAT-ozis more than a strong city[וּמִדְיָנִים]u/mid/ya/NIMand quarrelsכִּבְרִיחַkiv/RI/achare like the bar ofאַרְמוֹן׃ar/MONa fortress

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

20. 20

    מִפְּרִיmip/pe/RIfrom the fruit ofפִי־אִישׁfi-ishthe mouth of a manתִּשְׂבַּעtis/BAis satisfiedבִּטְנוֹbit/NOhis bellyתְּבוּאַתte/vu/ATwith the produce ofשְׂפָתָיוse/fa/TAYVhis lipsיִשְׂבָּע׃yis/BAhe 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

    מָוֶתMA/vetdeathוְחַיִּיםve/chay/YIMand lifeבְּיַד־לָשׁוֹןbe/YAD-la/SHONare in the hand of the tongueוְאֹהֲבֶיהָve/o/ha/VE/haand those who love itיֹאכַלyo/KHALwill eatפִּרְיָהּ׃pir/YAits fruit

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

22. 22

    מָצָאma/TSAhe who findsאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeמָצָאma/TSAfindsטוֹבtova good thingוַיָּפֶקvay/YA/fekand obtainsרָצוֹןra/TSONfavorמֵיְהֹוָה׃me-Adonaifrom the LORD

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

23. 23

    תַּחֲנוּנִיםta/cha/nu/NIMentreatiesיְדַבֶּר־רָשׁye/dab/BER-rashthe poor speaksוְעָשִׁירve/a/SHIRbut the richיַעֲנֶהya/a/NEanswersעַזּוֹת׃az/ZOTroughly

    The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24. 24

    אִישׁisha man ofרֵעִיםre/IMfriendsלְהִתְרֹעֵעַle/hit/ro/E/ato show himself friendlyוְיֵשׁve/YESHbut there isאֹהֵבo/HEVa friendדָּבֵקda/VEKwho sticks closerמֵאָח׃me/ACHthan a brother

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