Proverbs 25 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ה

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 25 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   גַּם־אֵלֶּהgam-EL/lealso theseמִשְׁלֵיmish/LEthe proverbs ofשְׁלֹמֹהShe/lo/MOSolomonאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichהֶעְתִּיקוּhe/TI/kucopiedאַנְשֵׁיan/SHEthe men ofחִזְקִיָּהChiz/kiy/YAHezekiahמֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה׃ME/lekh-Ye/hu/DAking of Judah

   These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2. 2

   כְּבֹדke/VODit is the glory ofאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodהַסְתֵּרhas/TERto concealדָּבָרda/VARa matterוּכְבֹדu/khe/VODbut the glory ofמְלָכִיםme/la/KHIMkingsחֲקֹרcha/KORto search outדָּבָר׃da/VARa matter

   It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3. 3

   שָׁמַיִםsha/MA/yimthe heavensלָרוּםla/RUMfor heightוָאָרֶץva/A/retsand the earthלָעֹמֶקla/O/mekfor depthוְלֵבve/LEVand the heart ofמְלָכִיםme/la/KHIMkingsאֵיןenthere is noחֵקֶר׃CHE/kersearching

   The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4. 4

   הָגוֹha/GOtake awayסִיגִיםsi/GIMdrossמִכָּסֶףmik/KA/seffrom silverוַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand there comes outלַצֹּרֵףlats/tso/REFfor the refinerכֶּלִי׃KE/lia vessel

   Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5. 5

   הָגוֹha/GOtake awayרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedלִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְlif/NE-ME/lekhfrom before the kingוְיִכּוֹןve/yik/KONand will be establishedבַּצֶּדֶקbats/TSE/dekin righteousnessכִּסְאוֹ׃kis/Ohis throne

   Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6. 6

   אַל־תִּתְהַדַּרal-tit/had/DARdo not honor yourselfלִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְlif/NE-ME/lekhbefore the kingוּבִמְקוֹםu/vim/KOMand in the place ofגְּדֹלִיםge/do/LIMthe greatאַל־תַּעֲמֹד׃al-ta/a/MODdo not stand

   Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7. 7

   כִּיkiforטוֹבtovit is betterאֲמׇר־לְךָa/MOR-le/KHAthat it be said to youעֲלֵה־הֵנָּהa/LE-HEN/nacome up hereמֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָme/hash/PI/le/khathan to humble youלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeנָדִיבna/DIVa princeאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomרָאוּra/Uhave seenעֵינֶיךָ׃e/NE/khayour eyes

   For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8. 8

   אַל־תֵּצֵאal-te/TSEdo not go outלָרִבla/RIVto strifeמַהֵרma/HERhastilyפֶּןpenlestמַה־תַּעֲשֶׂהma-ta/a/SEwhat will you doבְּאַחֲרִיתָהּbe/a/cha/ri/TAin the end of itבְּהַכְלִיםbe/hakh/LIMwhen shamesאֹתְךָot/KHAyouרֵעֶךָ׃re/E/khayour neighbor

   Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9. 9

   רִיבְךָri/ve/KHAyour caseרִיבrivargueאֶת־רֵעֶךָet-re/E/khawith your neighborוְסוֹדve/SODand the secret ofאַחֵרa/CHERanotherאַל־תְּגָל׃al-te/GALdo not reveal

   Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10. 10

    פֶּן־יְחַסֶּדְךָpen-ye/chas/sed/KHAlest put you to shameשֹׁמֵעַsho/ME/ahe who hearsוְדִבָּתְךָve/dib/ba/te/KHAand your evil reportלֹאlonotתָשׁוּב׃ta/SHUVturn back

    Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11. 11

    תַּפּוּחֵיtap/pu/CHEapples ofזָהָבza/HAVgoldבְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹתbe/mas/kiy/YOTin settings ofכָּסֶףKA/sefsilverדָּבָרda/VARa wordדָּבֻרda/VURspokenעַל־אׇפְנָיו׃al-of/NAYVfitly

    A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12. 12

    נֶזֶםNE/zema ring ofזָהָבza/HAVgoldוַחֲלִי־כָתֶםva/cha/LI-KHA/temand an ornament of fine goldמוֹכִיחַmo/KHI/achis a reproverחָכָםcha/KHAMwiseעַל־אֹזֶןal-O/zento an earשֹׁמָעַת׃sho/MA/atthat listens

    As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13. 13

    כְּצִנַּת־שֶׁלֶגke/tsin/NAT-SHE/leglike the cold of snowבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofקָצִירka/TSIRharvestצִירtsiris a messengerנֶאֱמָןne/e/MANfaithfulלְשֹׁלְחָיוle/shol/CHAYVto those who send himוְנֶפֶשׁve/NE/feshfor the soul ofאֲדֹנָיוa/do/NAYVhis mastersיָשִׁיב׃ya/SHIVhe restores

    As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14. 14

    נְשִׂיאִיםne/si/IMcloudsוְרוּחַve/RU/achand windוְגֶשֶׁםve/GE/shemand rainאָיִןA/yinthere is notאִישׁisha manמִתְהַלֵּלmit/hal/LELboastingבְּמַתַּת־שָׁקֶר׃be/mat/TAT-SHA/kerof a false gift

    Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15. 15

    בְּאֹרֶךְbe/O/rekhby slowness ofאַפַּיִםap/PA/yimangerיְפֻתֶּהye/fut/TEis persuadedקָצִיןka/TSINa rulerוְלָשׁוֹןve/la/SHONand a tongueרַכָּהrak/KAsoftתִּשְׁבׇּר־גָּרֶם׃tish/BOR-GA/rembreaks a bone

    By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16. 16

    דְּבַשׁde/VASHhoneyמָצָאתָma/TSA/tahave you foundאֱכֹלe/KHOLeatדַּיֶּךָּday/YEK/kawhat is enough for youפֶּן־תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּpen-tis/ba/EN/nulest you be filled with itוַהֲקֵאתוֹ׃va/ha/ke/TOand vomit it

    Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17. 17

    הֹקַרho/KARlet be rareרַגְלְךָrag/le/KHAyour footמִבֵּיתmib/BETfrom the house ofרֵעֶךָre/E/khayour neighborפֶּן־יִשְׂבָּעֲךָpen-yis/ba/a/KHAlest he be weary of youוּשְׂנֵאֶךָ׃u/se/ne/E/khaand hate you

    Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18. 18

    מֵפִיץme/FITSa clubוְחֶרֶבve/CHE/revand a swordוְחֵץve/CHETSand an arrowשָׁנוּןsha/NUNsharpאִישׁishis a manעֹנֶהo/NEwho bears witnessבְרֵעֵהוּve/re/E/huagainst his neighborעֵדedas a witness ofשָׁקֶר׃SHA/kerfalsehood

    A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19. 19

    שֵׁןshena toothרֹעָהRO/abrokenוְרֶגֶלve/RE/geland a footמוּעָדֶתmu/A/detslippingמִבְטָחmiv/TACHis confidence inבּוֹגֵדbo/GEDthe treacherousבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofצָרָה׃tsa/RAtrouble

    Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20. 20

    מַעֲדֶה־בֶּגֶדMA/a/de-BE/gedone who takes off a garmentבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofקָרָהka/RAcoldחֹמֶץCHO/metsvinegarעַל־נָתֶרal-NA/teron sodaוְשָׁרve/SHARis one who singsבַּשִּׁרִיםbash/shi/RIMsongsעַלaltoלֶב־רָע׃lev-raa heavy heart

    As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21. 21

    אִם־רָעֵבim-ra/EVif is hungryשֹׂנַאֲךָso/na/a/KHAhe who hates youהַאֲכִלֵהוּha/a/khi/LE/hufeed himלָחֶםLA/chembreadוְאִם־צָמֵאve/IM-tsa/MEand if he is thirstyהַשְׁקֵהוּhash/KE/hugive him drinkמָיִם׃MA/yimwater

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22. 22

    כִּיkiforגֶחָלִיםge/cha/LIMcoalsאַתָּהat/TAyouחֹתֶהcho/TEwill heapעַל־רֹאשׁוֹal-ro/SHOupon his headוַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDיְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ׃ye/shal/LEM-lakhwill reward you

    For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23. 23

    רוּחַRU/achthe wind ofצָפוֹןtsa/FONthe northתְּחוֹלֵלte/CHO/lelbrings forthגָּשֶׁםGA/shemrainוּפָנִיםu/fa/NIMand a faceנִזְעָמִיםniz/a/MIMangryלְשׁוֹןle/SHONa tongue ofסָתֶר׃SA/tersecrecy

    The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24. 24

    טוֹבtovit is betterשֶׁבֶתSHE/vetto dwellעַל־פִּנַּת־גָּגal-pin/NAT-gagon a corner of a roofמֵאֵשֶׁתme/E/shetthan with a wife of(מדונים)madavanayam[מִדְיָנִים]mid/ya/NIMquarrelsוּבֵיתu/VETin a houseחָבֶר׃CHA/vershared

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

25. 25

    מַיִםMA/yimwatersקָרִיםka/RIMcoldעַל־נֶפֶשׁal-NE/feshto a soulעֲיֵפָהa/ye/FAwearyוּשְׁמוּעָהu/she/mu/Aand newsטוֹבָהto/VAgoodמֵאֶרֶץme/E/retsfrom a landמֶרְחָק׃mer/CHAKfar away

    As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26. 26

    מַעְיָןma/YANa springנִרְפָּשׂnir/PASmuddiedוּמָקוֹרu/ma/KORand a fountainמׇשְׁחָתmosh/CHATpollutedצַדִּיקtsad/DIKis the righteousמָטmatwho gives wayלִפְנֵי־רָשָׁע׃lif/NE-ra/SHAbefore the wicked

    A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27. 27

    אָכֹלa/KHOLto eatדְּבַשׁde/VASHhoneyהַרְבּוֹתhar/BOTmuchלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodוְחֵקֶרve/CHE/kerand to search outכְּבֹדָםke/vo/DAMtheir gloryכָּבוֹד׃ka/VODis glory

    It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28. 28

    עִירira cityפְּרוּצָהpe/ru/TSAbroken downאֵיןenwithoutחוֹמָהcho/MAa wallאִישׁishis a manאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoאֵיןenhas noמַעְצָרma/TSARrestraintלְרוּחוֹ׃le/ru/CHOover his spirit

    He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.