Proverbs 21 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   פַּלְגֵי־מַיִםpal/GE-MA/yimstreams of waterלֶב־מֶלֶךְlev-ME/lekhthe heart of a kingבְּיַד־יְהֹוָהbe/YAD-Adonaiis in the hand of the LORDעַל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרal-kol-a/SHERwhereverיַחְפֹּץyach/POTSHe willsיַטֶּנּוּ׃yat/TEN/nuHe turns it

   The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2. 2

   כׇּל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁkol-DE/rekh-ishevery way of a manיָשָׁרya/SHARis rightבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his own eyesוְתֹכֵןve/to/KHENbut weighsלִבּוֹתlib/BOTthe heartsיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

3. 3

   עֲשֹׂהa/SOto doצְדָקָהtse/da/KArighteousnessוּמִשְׁפָּטu/mish/PATand justiceנִבְחָרniv/CHARis more acceptableלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDמִזָּבַח׃miz/ZA/vachthan sacrifice

   To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4. 4

   רוּם־עֵינַיִםrum-e/NA/yimhaughty eyesוּרְחַב־לֵבu/re/CHAV-levand a proud heartנִרnirthe plowing ofרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedחַטָּאת׃chat/TATis sin

   An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

5. 5

   מַחְשְׁבוֹתmach/she/VOTthe plans ofחָרוּץcha/RUTSthe diligentאַךְ־לְמוֹתָרakh-le/mo/TARsurely to abundanceוְכׇל־אָץve/KHOL-atsbut everyone who is hastyאַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃akh-le/mach/SORsurely to want

   The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

6. 6

   פֹּעַלPO/althe getting ofאֹצָרוֹתo/tsa/ROTtreasuresבִּלְשׁוֹןbil/SHONby a tongue ofשָׁקֶרSHA/kerfalsehoodהֶבֶלHE/velis a vaporנִדָּףnid/DAFdriven awayמְבַקְשֵׁי־מָוֶת׃me/vak/SHE-MA/vetof those who seek death

   The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

7. 7

   שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִיםshod-re/sha/IMthe robbery of the wickedיְגוֹרֵםye/go/REMwill drag them awayכִּיkiforמֵאֲנוּme/a/NUthey refuseלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doמִשְׁפָּט׃mish/PATjustice

   The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

8. 8

   הֲפַכְפַּךְha/fakh/PAKHcrookedדֶּרֶךְDE/rekhis the way ofאִישׁisha manוָזָרva/ZARand strangeוְזַךְve/ZAKHbut the pureיָשָׁרya/SHARis rightפׇּעֳלוֹ׃po/o/LOhis work

   The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

9. 9

   טוֹבtovit is betterלָשֶׁבֶתla/SHE/vetto dwellעַל־פִּנַּת־גָּגal-pin/NAT-gagon a corner of a roofמֵאֵשֶׁתme/E/shetthan with a wife ofמִדְיָנִיםmid/ya/NIMquarrelsוּבֵיתu/VETin a houseחָבֶר׃CHA/vershared

   It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10. 10

    נֶפֶשׁNE/feshthe soul ofרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedאִוְּתָה־רָעiv/ve/TA-radesires evilלֹא־יֻחַןlo-yu/CHANfinds no favorבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his eyesרֵעֵהוּ׃re/E/huhis neighbor

    The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11. 11

    בַּעֲנׇשׁ־לֵץba/a/NOSH-letswhen the scoffer is punishedיֶחְכַּם־פֶּתִיyech/KAM-PE/tithe simple becomes wiseוּבְהַשְׂכִּילu/ve/has/KILand when is instructedלְחָכָםle/cha/KHAMthe wiseיִקַּח־דָּעַת׃yik/KACH-DA/athe receives knowledge

    When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12. 12

    מַשְׂכִּילmas/KILconsidersצַדִּיקtsad/DIKthe righteousלְבֵיתle/VETto the house ofרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedמְסַלֵּףme/sal/LEFoverthrowingרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedלָרָע׃la/RAto ruin

    The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

13. 13

    אֹטֵםo/TEMhe who shutsאׇזְנוֹoz/NOhis earמִזַּעֲקַת־דָּלmiz/za/a/KAT-dalfrom the cry of the poorגַּם־הוּאgam-huhe tooיִקְרָאyik/RAwill callוְלֹאve/LOand notיֵעָנֶה׃ye/a/NEbe answered

    Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14. 14

    מַתָּןmat/TANa giftבַּסֵּתֶרbas/SE/terin secretיִכְפֶּה־אָףyikh/PE-afaverts angerוְשֹׁחַדve/SHO/chadand a bribeבַּחֵקba/CHEKin the bosomחֵמָהche/MAwrathעַזָּה׃az/ZAstrong

    A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15. 15

    שִׂמְחָהsim/CHAit is joyלַצַּדִּיקlats/tsad/DIKto the righteousעֲשׂוֹתa/SOTto doמִשְׁפָּטmish/PATjusticeוּמְחִתָּהu/me/chit/TAbut terrorלְפֹעֲלֵיle/FO/a/leto the workers ofאָוֶן׃A/veniniquity

    It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16. 16

    אָדָםa/DAMa manתּוֹעֶהto/Ewho straysמִדֶּרֶךְmid/DE/rekhfrom the way ofהַשְׂכֵּלhas/KELunderstandingבִּקְהַלbik/HALin the assembly ofרְפָאִיםre/fa/IMthe shadesיָנוּחַ׃ya/NU/achwill rest

    The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17. 17

    אִישׁisha man ofמַחְסוֹרmach/SORwantאֹהֵבo/HEVis he who lovesשִׂמְחָהsim/CHApleasureאֹהֵבo/HEVhe who lovesיַיִן־וָשֶׁמֶןYA/yin-va/SHE/menwine and oilלֹאlonotיַעֲשִׁיר׃ya/a/SHIRwill be rich

    He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18. 18

    כֹּפֶרKO/feris a ransomלַצַּדִּיקlats/tsad/DIKfor the righteousרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedוְתַחַתve/TA/chatand in place ofיְשָׁרִיםye/sha/RIMthe uprightבּוֹגֵד׃bo/GEDthe treacherous

    The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19. 19

    טוֹבtovit is betterשֶׁבֶתSHE/vetto dwellבְּאֶרֶץ־מִדְבָּרbe/E/rets-mid/BARin a desert landמֵאֵשֶׁתme/E/shetthan with a wife of(מדונים)madavanayam[מִדְיָנִים]mid/ya/NIMquarrelsוָכָעַס׃va/KHA/asand vexation

    It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20. 20

    אוֹצָרo/TSARtreasureנֶחְמָדnech/MADdesirableוָשֶׁמֶןva/SHE/menand oilבִּנְוֵהbin/VEis in the dwelling ofחָכָםcha/KHAMthe wiseוּכְסִילu/khe/SILbut a fool ofאָדָםa/DAMa manיְבַלְּעֶנּוּ׃ye/val/le/EN/nuswallows it up

    There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

21. 21

    רֹדֵףro/DEFhe who pursuesצְדָקָהtse/da/KArighteousnessוָחָסֶדva/CHA/sedand kindnessיִמְצָאyim/TSAwill findחַיִּיםchay/YIMlifeצְדָקָהtse/da/KArighteousnessוְכָבוֹד׃ve/kha/VODand honor

    He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

22. 22

    עִירirthe city ofגִּבֹּרִיםgib/bo/RIMthe mightyעָלָהa/LAscalesחָכָםcha/KHAMa wise manוַיֹּרֶדvay/YO/redand brings downעֹזozthe strength ofמִבְטֶחָהֿ׃miv/te/CHAits confidence

    A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23. 23

    שֹׁמֵרsho/MERhe who keepsפִּיוpivhis mouthוּלְשׁוֹנוֹu/le/sho/NOand his tongueשֹׁמֵרsho/MERkeepsמִצָּרוֹתmits/tsa/ROTfrom troublesנַפְשׁוֹ׃naf/SHOhis soul

    Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24. 24

    זֵדzedthe proudיָהִירya/HIRarrogantלֵץletsscoffer isשְׁמוֹshe/MOhis nameעוֹשֶׂהo/SEwho actsבְּעֶבְרַתbe/ev/RATin the fury ofזָדוֹן׃za/DONpride

    Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

25. 25

    תַּאֲוַתta/a/VATthe desire ofעָצֵלa/TSELthe sluggardתְּמִיתֶנּוּte/mi/TEN/nukills himכִּי־מֵאֲנוּki-me/a/NUfor refuseיָדָיוya/DAYVhis handsלַעֲשׂוֹת׃la/a/SOTto work

    The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26. 26

    כׇּל־הַיוֹםkol-ha/YOMall the dayהִתְאַוָּהhit/av/VAhe cravesתַאֲוָהta/a/VAcravingוְצַדִּיקve/tsad/DIKbut the righteousיִתֵּןyit/TENgivesוְלֹאve/LOand does notיַחְשֹׂךְ׃yach/SOKHhold back

    He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27. 27

    זֶבַחZE/vachthe sacrifice ofרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedתּוֹעֵבָהto/e/VAis an abominationאַףafhow much moreכִּי־בְזִמָּהki-ve/zim/MAwhen with evil intentיְבִיאֶנּוּ׃ye/vi/EN/nuhe brings it

    The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

28. 28

    עֵד־כְּזָבִיםed-ke/za/VIMa witness of liesיֹאבֵדyo/VEDwill perishוְאִישׁve/ISHbut a manשׁוֹמֵעַsho/ME/awho listensלָנֶצַחla/NE/tsachforeverיְדַבֵּר׃ye/dab/BERwill speak

    A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

29. 29

    הֵעֵזhe/EZmakes boldאִישׁisha manרָשָׁעra/SHAwickedבְּפָנָיוbe/fa/NAYVhis faceוְיָשָׁרve/ya/SHARbut the uprightהוּאhuhe(יכיןyakhayanדרכיו)darakhayav[יָבִיןya/VINconsidersדַּרְכּוֹ]׃dar/KOhis way

    A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30. 30

    אֵיןenthere is noחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוְאֵיןve/ENand there is noתְּבוּנָהte/vu/NAunderstandingוְאֵיןve/ENand there is noעֵצָהe/TSAcounselלְנֶגֶדle/NE/gedagainstיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

31. 31

    סוּסsusthe horseמוּכָןmu/KHANis preparedלְיוֹםle/YOMfor the day ofמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAbattleוְלַיהֹוָהve-la-Adonaibut to the LORDהַתְּשׁוּעָה׃hat/te/shu/Abelongs the deliverance

    The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.