Proverbs 23 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 23 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   כִּי־תֵשֵׁבki-te/SHEVwhen you sitלִלְחוֹםlil/CHOMto eatאֶת־מוֹשֵׁלet-mo/SHELwith a rulerבִּיןbinconsiderתָּבִיןta/VINyou shall considerאֶת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERwhatלְפָנֶיךָ׃le/fa/NE/khabefore you

   When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

2. 2

   וְשַׂמְתָּve/sam/TAand putשַׂכִּיןsak/KINa knifeבְּלֹעֶךָbe/lo/E/khato your throatאִם־בַּעַלim-BA/alif a master ofנֶפֶשׁNE/feshappetiteאָתָּה׃AT/tayou are

   And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3. 3

   אַל־תִּתְאָוal-tit/AVdo not desireלְמַטְעַמּוֹתָיוle/mat/am/mo/TAYVhis delicaciesוְהוּאve/HUfor it isלֶחֶםLE/chembread ofכְּזָבִים׃ke/za/VIMdeceptions

   Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4. 4

   אַל־תִּיגַעal-ti/GAdo not toilלְהַעֲשִׁירle/ha/a/SHIRto be richמִבִּינָתְךָmib/bi/na/te/KHAfrom your own understandingחֲדָל׃cha/DALcease

   Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5. 5

   [הֲתָעִיף]־עֵינֶיךָha/TA/if-e/NE/khawill you let fly your eyesבּוֹboon itוְאֵינֶנּוּve/e/NEN/nuand it is goneכִּיkiforעָשֹׂהa/SOmakeיַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹya/a/SE-loit makes itselfכְנָפַיִםkhe/na/FA/yimwingsכְּנֶשֶׁרke/NE/sherlike an eagle(ועיף)vyaf[יָעוּף]ya/UFit fliesהַשָּׁמָיִם׃hash/sha/MA/yimtoward the heavens

   Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

6. 6

   אַל־תִּלְחַםal-til/CHAMdo not eatאֶת־לֶחֶםet-LE/chemthe bread ofרַעraan evilעָיִןA/yineyeוְאַל־תִּתְאָוve/AL-tit/AVand do not desireלְמַטְעַמֹּתָיו׃le/mat/am/mo/TAYVhis delicacies

   Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

7. 7

   כִּיkiforכְּמוֹke/MOasשָׁעַרSHA/arhe calculatesבְּנַפְשׁוֹbe/naf/SHOin his soulכֶּן־הוּאken-huso is heאֱכוֹלe/KHOLeatוּשְׁתֵהu/she/TEand drinkיֹאמַרyo/MARhe saysלָךְlakhto youוְלִבּוֹve/lib/BObut his heartבַּל־עִמָּךְ׃bal-im/MAKHis not with you

   For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8. 8

   פִּתְּךָ־אָכַלְתָּpit/te/KHA-a/KHAL/tathe morsel you have eatenתְקִיאֶנָּהte/ki/EN/nayou will vomit it upוְשִׁחַתָּve/shi/CHAT/taand you will wasteדְּבָרֶיךָde/va/RE/khayour wordsהַנְּעִימִים׃han/ne/i/MIMpleasant

   The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

9. 9

   בְּאׇזְנֵיbe/oz/NEin the ears ofכְסִילkhe/SILa foolאַל־תְּדַבֵּרal-te/dab/BERdo not speakכִּי־יָבוּזki-ya/VUZfor he will despiseלְשֵׂכֶלle/SE/khelthe wisdom ofמִלֶּיךָ׃mil/LE/khayour words

   Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10. 10

    אַל־תַּסֵּגal-tas/SEGdo not moveגְּבוּלge/VULthe boundary ofעוֹלָםo/LAMoldוּבִשְׂדֵיu/vis/DEand into the fields ofיְתוֹמִיםye/to/MIMthe fatherlessאַל־תָּבֹא׃al-ta/VOdo not enter

    Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11. 11

    כִּי־גֹאֲלָםki-Go/a/LAMfor their Redeemerחָזָקcha/ZAKis strongהוּא־יָרִיבhu-ya/RIVHe will pleadאֶת־רִיבָםet-ri/VAMtheir causeאִתָּךְ׃it/TAKHagainst you

    For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

12. 12

    הָבִיאָהha/VI/aapplyלַמּוּסָרlam/mu/SARto instructionלִבֶּךָlib/BE/khayour heartוְאׇזְנֶךָve/oz/NE/khaand your earsלְאִמְרֵי־דָעַת׃le/im/RE-DA/atto the words of knowledge

    Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13. 13

    אַל־תִּמְנַעal-tim/NAdo not withholdמִנַּעַרmin/NA/arfrom a childמוּסָרmu/SARdisciplineכִּי־תַכֶּנּוּki-tak/KEN/nuif you strike himבַשֵּׁבֶטvash/SHE/vetwith the rodלֹאlohe will notיָמוּת׃ya/MUTdie

    Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14. 14

    אַתָּהat/TAyouבַּשֵּׁבֶטbash/SHE/vetwith the rodתַּכֶּנּוּtak/KEN/nushall strike himוְנַפְשׁוֹve/naf/SHOand his soulמִשְּׁאוֹלmish/She/OLfrom Sheolתַּצִּיל׃tats/TSILwill deliver

    Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15. 15

    בְּנִיbe/NImy sonאִם־חָכַםim-cha/KHAMif is wiseלִבֶּךָlib/BE/khayour heartיִשְׂמַחyis/MACHwill rejoiceלִבִּיlib/BImy heartגַם־אָנִי׃gam-A/nieven mine

    My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16. 16

    וְתַעְלֹזְנָהve/ta/LOZ/naand will rejoiceכִלְיוֹתָיkhil/yo/TAYmy kidneysבְּדַבֵּרbe/dab/BERwhen speakשְׂפָתֶיךָse/fa/TE/khayour lipsמֵישָׁרִים׃me/sha/RIMwhat is right

    Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

17. 17

    אַל־יְקַנֵּאal-ye/kan/NElet not envyלִבְּךָlib/be/KHAyour heartבַּחַטָּאִיםba/chat/ta/IMsinnersכִּיkibutאִם־בְּיִרְאַת־יְהֹוָהim-be/yir/AT-Adonaibe in the fear of the LORDכׇּל־הַיּוֹם׃kol-hay/YOMall the day

    Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

18. 18

    כִּיkiforאִם־יֵשׁim-yeshsurely there isאַחֲרִיתa/cha/RITa futureוְתִקְוָתְךָve/tik/va/te/KHAand your hopeלֹאlonotתִכָּרֵת׃tik/ka/RETbe cut off

    For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19. 19

    שְׁמַע־אַתָּהshe/MA-at/TAlisten youבְנִיve/NImy sonוַחֲכָםva/cha/KHAMand be wiseוְאַשֵּׁרve/ash/SHERand directבַּדֶּרֶךְbad/DE/rekhin the wayלִבֶּךָ׃lib/BE/khayour heart

    Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20. 20

    אַל־תְּהִיal-te/HIdo not beבְסֹבְאֵי־יָיִןve/sov/E-YA/yinamong drinkers of wineבְּזֹלְלֵיbe/zol/LEamong gluttonous eaters ofבָשָׂרva/SARmeatלָמוֹ׃LA/mofor themselves

    Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21. 21

    כִּי־סֹבֵאki-so/VEfor the drunkardוְזוֹלֵלve/zo/LELand a gluttonיִוָּרֵשׁyiv/va/RESHwill come to povertyוּקְרָעִיםu/ke/ra/IMwith ragsתַּלְבִּישׁtal/BISHwill clotheנוּמָה׃nu/MAdrowsiness

    For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22. 22

    שְׁמַעshe/MAlistenלְאָבִיךָle/a/VI/khato your fatherזֶהzewhoיְלָדֶךָye/la/DE/khabegot youוְאַל־תָּבוּזve/AL-ta/VUZand do not despiseכִּי־זָקְנָהki-za/ke/NAwhen she is oldאִמֶּךָ׃im/ME/khayour mother

    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23. 23

    אֱמֶתe/METtruthקְנֵהke/NEbuyוְאַל־תִּמְכֹּרve/AL-tim/KORand do not sellחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוּמוּסָרu/mu/SARand instructionוּבִינָה׃u/vi/NAand understanding

    Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24. 24

    (גול)gaval[גִּיל]gilrejoiceיָגִילya/GILwill rejoiceאֲבִיa/VIthe father ofצַדִּיקtsad/DIKthe righteous(יולד)yavalad[וְיוֹלֵד]ve/yo/LEDand he who begetsחָכָםcha/KHAMthe wise(וישמח)vayashamach[יִשְׂמַח־]בּוֹ׃yis/MACH-bowill be glad in him

    The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25. 25

    יִשְׂמַח־אָבִיךָyis/MACH-a/VI/khalet your father rejoiceוְאִמֶּךָve/im/ME/khaand your motherוְתָגֵלve/ta/GELand let rejoiceיוֹלַדְתֶּךָ׃yo/lad/TE/khashe who bore you

    Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26. 26

    תְּנָה־בְנִיte/NA-ve/NIgive my sonלִבְּךָlib/be/KHAyour heartלִיlito meוְעֵינֶיךָve/e/NE/khaand let your eyesדְּרָכַיde/ra/KHAYmy ways[תִּצֹּרְנָה]׃tits/TSOR/naobserve

    My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27. 27

    כִּי־שׁוּחָהki-shu/CHAfor a pitעֲמֻקָּהa/muk/KAdeepזוֹנָהzo/NAis a prostituteוּבְאֵרu/ve/ERand a wellצָרָהtsa/RAnarrowנׇכְרִיָּה׃nokh/riy/YAis a foreign woman

    For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28. 28

    אַף־הִיאaf-hishe alsoכְּחֶתֶףke/CHE/teflike a robberתֶּאֱרֹבte/e/ROVlies in waitוּבוֹגְדִיםu/vog/DIMand the treacherousבְּאָדָםbe/a/DAMamong menתּוֹסִף׃to/SIFshe increases

    She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29. 29

    לְמִיle/MIto whomאוֹיoywoeלְמִיle/MIto whomאֲבוֹיa/VOYsorrowלְמִיle/MIto whom(מדונים)madavanayam[מִדְיָנִים]mid/ya/NIMquarrelsלְמִיle/MIto whomשִׂיחַSI/achcomplainingלְמִיle/MIto whomפְּצָעִיםpe/tsa/IMwoundsחִנָּםchin/NAMwithout causeלְמִיle/MIto whomחַכְלִלוּתchakh/li/LUTredness ofעֵינָיִם׃e/NA/yimeyes

    Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30. 30

    לַמְאַחֲרִיםlam/a/cha/RIMto those who lingerעַל־הַיָּיִןal-hay/YA/yinover wineלַבָּאִיםlab/ba/IMto those who goלַחְקֹרlach/KORto search outמִמְסָךְ׃mim/SAKHmixed wine

    They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31. 31

    אַל־תֵּרֶאal-TE/redo not look atיַּיִןYA/yinwineכִּיkiwhenיִתְאַדָּםyit/ad/DAMit is redכִּי־יִתֵּןki-yit/TENwhen it gives[בַּכּוֹס]bak/KOSin the cupעֵינוֹe/NOits sparkleיִתְהַלֵּךְyit/hal/LEKHit goes downבְּמֵישָׁרִים׃be/me/sha/RIMsmoothly

    Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32. 32

    אַחֲרִיתוֹa/cha/ri/TOat its endכְּנָחָשׁke/na/CHASHlike a serpentיִשָּׁךְyish/SHAKHit bitesוּכְצִפְעֹנִיu/khe/tsif/o/NIand like an adderיַפְרִשׁ׃yaf/RISHit stings

    At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33. 33

    עֵינֶיךָe/NE/khayour eyesיִרְאוּyir/Uwill seeזָרוֹתza/ROTstrange thingsוְלִבְּךָve/lib/be/KHAand your heartיְדַבֵּרye/dab/BERwill utterתַּהְפֻּכוֹת׃tah/pu/KHOTperverse things

    Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34. 34

    וְהָיִיתָve/ha/YI/taand you will beכְּשֹׁכֵבke/sho/KHEVlike one who lies downבְּלֶב־יָםbe/LEV-yamin the heart of the seaוּכְשֹׁכֵבu/khe/sho/KHEVand like one who lies downבְּרֹאשׁbe/ROSHon the top ofחִבֵּל׃chib/BELa mast

    Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35. 35

    הִכּוּנִיhik/KU/nithey struck meבַל־חָלִיתִיval-cha/LI/tiI was not hurtהֲלָמוּנִיha/la/MU/nithey beat meבַּל־יָדָעְתִּיbal-ya/DA/tiI did not know itמָתַיma/TAYwhenאָקִיץa/KITSshall I awakeאוֹסִיףo/SIFI will addאֲבַקְשֶׁנּוּa/vak/SHEN/nuI will seek itעוֹד׃odagain

    They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.