Proverbs 19 מִשְׁלֵי פרק י״ט

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 19 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   טוֹב־רָשׁtov-rashbetter is the poorהוֹלֵךְho/LEKHwho walksבְּתֻמּוֹbe/tum/MOin his integrityמֵעִקֵּשׁme/ik/KESHthan one perverse inשְׂפָתָיוse/fa/TAYVhis lipsוְהוּאve/HUand he isכְסִיל׃khe/SILa fool

   Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2. 2

   גַּםgamalsoבְּלֹא־דַעַתbe/LO-DA/atwithout knowledgeנֶפֶשׁNE/feshfor the soulלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodוְאָץve/ATSand he who hastensבְּרַגְלַיִםbe/rag/LA/yimwith his feetחוֹטֵא׃cho/TEsins

   Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3. 3

   אִוֶּלֶתiv/VE/letthe folly ofאָדָםa/DAMa manתְּסַלֵּףte/sal/LEFsubvertsדַּרְכּוֹdar/KOhis wayוְעַל־יְהֹוָהve/AL-Adonaiand against the LORDיִזְעַףyiz/AFragesלִבּוֹ׃lib/BOhis heart

   The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

4. 4

   הוֹןhonwealthיֹסִיףyo/SIFaddsרֵעִיםre/IMfriendsרַבִּיםrab/BIMmanyוְדָלve/DALbut the poorמֵרֵעֵהוּme/re/E/hufrom his friendיִפָּרֵד׃yip/pa/REDis separated

   Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

5. 5

   עֵדeda witness ofשְׁקָרִיםshe/ka/RIMliesלֹאlonotיִנָּקֶהyin/na/KEwill go unpunishedוְיָפִיחַve/ya/FI/achand he who breathes outכְּזָבִיםke/za/VIMliesלֹאlonotיִמָּלֵט׃yim/ma/LETwill escape

   A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

6. 6

   רַבִּיםrab/BIMmanyיְחַלּוּye/chal/LUentreatפְנֵי־נָדִיבfe/NE-na/DIVthe favor of a princeוְכׇל־הָרֵעַve/KHOL-ha/RE/aand everyone is a friendלְאִישׁle/ISHto a man ofמַתָּן׃mat/TANgifts

   Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

7. 7

   כׇּל־אֲחֵי־רָשׁkol-a/CHE-rashall the brothers of the poorשְׂנֵאֻהוּse/ne/U/huhate himאַףafhow much moreכִּיkidoמְרֵעֵהוּme/re/e/HUhis friendsרָחֲקוּra/cha/KUgo farמִמֶּנּוּmim/MEN/nufrom himמְרַדֵּףme/rad/DEFhe pursuesאֲמָרִיםa/ma/RIMwith words(לא)l[לוֹ־]הֵמָּה׃lo-hem/MAto him they are

   All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

8. 8

   קֹנֶה־לֵּבko/NE-levhe who gets senseאֹהֵבo/HEVlovesנַפְשׁוֹnaf/SHOhis own soulשֹׁמֵרsho/MERhe who keepsתְּבוּנָהte/vu/NAunderstandingלִמְצֹא־טוֹב׃lim/TSO-tovwill find good

   He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9. 9

   עֵדeda witness ofשְׁקָרִיםshe/ka/RIMliesלֹאlonotיִנָּקֶהyin/na/KEwill go unpunishedוְיָפִיחַve/ya/FI/achand he who breathes outכְּזָבִיםke/za/VIMliesיֹאבֵד׃yo/VEDwill perish

   A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

10. 10

    לֹא־נָאוֶהlo-na/VEis not fittingלִכְסִילlikh/SILfor a foolתַּעֲנוּגta/a/NUGluxuryאַףafhow much lessכִּי־לְעֶבֶדki-le/E/vedfor a servantמְשֹׁלme/SHOLto ruleבְּשָׂרִים׃be/sa/RIMover princes

    Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11. 11

    שֵׂכֶלSE/khelthe discretion ofאָדָםa/DAMa manהֶאֱרִיךְhe/e/RIKHmakes slowאַפּוֹap/POhis angerוְתִפְאַרְתּוֹve/tif/ar/TOand it is his gloryעֲבֹרa/VORto pass overעַל־פָּשַׁע׃al-pa/SHAa transgression

    The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12. 12

    נַהַםNA/hamis a roaringכַּכְּפִירkak/ke/FIRlike the young lionזַעַףZA/afis the rage ofמֶלֶךְME/lekha kingוּכְטַלu/khe/TALbut like dewעַל־עֵשֶׂבal-E/sevon the grassרְצוֹנוֹ׃re/tso/NOis his favor

    The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

13. 13

    הַוֺּתhav/VOTis ruinלְאָבִיוle/a/VIVto his fatherבֵּןbena sonכְּסִילke/SILfoolishוְדֶלֶףve/DE/lefand a drippingטֹרֵדto/REDcontinualמִדְיְנֵיmid/ye/NEare the quarrels ofאִשָּׁה׃ish/SHAa wife

    A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14. 14

    בַּיִתBA/yithouseוָהוֹןva/HONand wealthנַחֲלַתna/cha/LATare the inheritance ofאָבוֹתa/VOTfathersוּמֵיְהֹוָהu/mey/ho/VAbut from the LORDאִשָּׁהish/SHAis a wifeמַשְׂכָּלֶת׃mas/KA/letprudent

    House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15. 15

    עַצְלָהats/LAlazinessתַּפִּילtap/PILcasts intoתַּרְדֵּמָהtar/de/MAa deep sleepוְנֶפֶשׁve/NE/feshand a soulרְמִיָּהre/miy/YAslackתִרְעָב׃tir/AVwill hunger

    Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16. 16

    שֹׁמֵרsho/MERhe who keepsמִצְוָהmits/VAthe commandmentשֹׁמֵרsho/MERkeepsנַפְשׁוֹnaf/SHOhis soulבּוֹזֵהbo/ZEhe who despisesדְרָכָיוde/ra/KHAYVhis ways(יומת)yavamat[יָמוּת]׃ya/MUTwill die

    He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

17. 17

    מַלְוֵהmal/VElends toיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDחוֹנֵןcho/NENhe who is gracious toדָּלdalthe poorוּגְמֻלוֹu/ge/mu/LOand his good deedיְשַׁלֶּם־לוֹ׃ye/shal/LEM-loHe will repay him

    He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

18. 18

    יַסֵּרyas/SERdisciplineבִּנְךָbin/KHAyour sonכִּי־יֵשׁki-yeshwhile there isתִּקְוָהtik/VAhopeוְאֶל־הֲמִיתוֹve/EL-ha/mi/TObut on putting him to deathאַל־תִּשָּׂאal-tis/SAdo not setנַפְשֶׁךָ׃naf/SHE/khayour soul

    Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

19. 19

    (גרל)garal[גְּדׇל־]חֵמָהge/DOL-che/MAgreat of wrathנֹשֵׂאno/SEwill bearעֹנֶשׁO/neshthe penaltyכִּיkiforאִם־תַּצִּילim-tats/TSILif you rescue himוְעוֹדve/ODand againתּוֹסִף׃to/SIFyou will add

    A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

20. 20

    שְׁמַעshe/MAlisten toעֵצָהe/TSAcounselוְקַבֵּלve/kab/BELand receiveמוּסָרmu/SARinstructionלְמַעַןle/MA/anso thatתֶּחְכַּםtech/KAMyou may be wiseבְּאַחֲרִיתֶךָ׃be/a/cha/ri/TE/khain your latter end

    Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21. 21

    רַבּוֹתrab/BOTmany areמַחֲשָׁבוֹתma/cha/sha/VOTthe plansבְּלֶב־אִישׁbe/LEV-ishin the heart of a manוַעֲצַתva/a/TSATbut the counsel ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDהִיאhiitתָקוּם׃ta/KUMwill stand

    There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

22. 22

    תַּאֲוַתta/a/VATwhat is desired inאָדָםa/DAMa manחַסְדּוֹchas/DOis his kindnessוְטוֹב־רָשׁve/TOV-rashand better is a poor manמֵאִישׁme/ISHthan a man ofכָּזָב׃ka/ZAVa lie

    The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

23. 23

    יִרְאַתyir/ATthe fear ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְחַיִּיםle/chay/YIMis to lifeוְשָׂבֵעַve/sa/VE/aand satisfiedיָלִיןya/LINhe will restבַּל־יִפָּקֶדbal-yip/PA/kedhe will not be visitedרָע׃raby evil

    The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

24. 24

    טָמַןta/MANburiesעָצֵלa/TSELthe sluggardיָדוֹya/DOhis handבַּצַּלָּחַתbats/tsal/LA/chatin the dishגַּם־אֶל־פִּיהוּgam-el-PI/hueven to his mouthלֹאlonotיְשִׁיבֶנָּה׃ye/shi/VEN/nawill bring it back

    A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25. 25

    לֵץletsa scofferתַּכֶּהtak/KEstrikeוּפֶתִיu/FE/tiand the simpleיַעְרִםya/RIMwill become prudentוְהוֹכִיחַve/ho/KHI/achand reproveלְנָבוֹןle/na/VONone who is discerningיָבִיןya/VINand he will understandדָּעַת׃DA/atknowledge

    Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26. 26

    מְשַׁדֶּד־אָבme/shad/DED-avhe who assaults his fatherיַבְרִיחַyav/RI/achchases awayאֵםemhis motherבֵּןbenis a sonמֵבִישׁme/VISHwho causes shameוּמַחְפִּיר׃u/mach/PIRand brings reproach

    He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

27. 27

    חֲדַל־בְּנִיcha/DAL-be/NIcease my sonלִשְׁמֹעַlish/MO/ato hearמוּסָרmu/SARinstructionלִשְׁגוֹתlish/GOTonly to strayמֵאִמְרֵי־דָעַת׃me/im/RE-DA/atfrom the words of knowledge

    Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

28. 28

    עֵדeda witness ofבְּלִיַּעַלbe/liy/YA/alworthlessnessיָלִיץya/LITSmocksמִשְׁפָּטmish/PATjusticeוּפִיu/FIand the mouth ofרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedיְבַלַּע־אָוֶן׃ye/val/LA-A/venswallows iniquity

    An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

29. 29

    נָכוֹנוּna/KHO/nuare preparedלַלֵּצִיםlal/le/TSIMfor scoffersשְׁפָטִיםshe/fa/TIMjudgmentsוּמַהֲלֻמוֹתu/ma/ha/lu/MOTand blowsלְגֵוle/GEVfor the back ofכְּסִילִים׃ke/si/LIMfools

    Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.