Proverbs 26 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ו
Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 26 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.
- 1
כַּשֶּׁלֶגlike the snowבַּקַּיִץin the summerוְכַמָּטָרand like the rainבַּקָּצִירin the harvestכֵּןthusלֹא־נָאוֶהnot is suitableלִכְסִילfor a foolכָּבוֹד׃honor
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
- 2
כַּצִּפּוֹרlike the birdלָנוּדby wanderingכַּדְּרוֹרlike the swallowלָעוּףfor flyingכֵּןthusקִלְלַתthe curseחִנָּםcauseless(לא)[לוֹ]to himתָבֹא׃shall not come
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
- 3
שׁוֹטa scourgeלַסּוּסto the horseמֶתֶגa bridleלַחֲמוֹרfor a donkeyוְשֵׁבֶטand a rodלְגֵוfor the back ofכְּסִילִים׃fools
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
- 4
אַל־תַּעַןanswer notכְּסִילa foolכְּאִוַּלְתּוֹaccording to his foolishnessפֶּן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּוֹlest you be like himגַם־אָתָּה׃also you are
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- 5
עֲנֵהanswerכְסִילa foolכְּאִוַּלְתּוֹaccording to his foolishnessפֶּן־יִהְיֶהlest he shall beחָכָםwiseבְּעֵינָיו׃in his eyes
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- 6
מְקַצֶּהcuts offרַגְלַיִםfeetחָמָסdamageשֹׁתֶהdrinksשֹׁלֵחַhe who sendsדְּבָרִיםwordsבְּיַד־כְּסִיל׃by the hand of a fool
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
- 7
דַּלְיוּare not equalשֹׁקַיִםlegsמִפִּסֵּחַfrom a lame personוּמָשָׁלand a proverbבְּפִיin the mouth ofכְסִילִים׃fools
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 8
כִּצְרוֹרas he who bindsאֶבֶןstoneבְּמַרְגֵּמָהin a slingכֵּן־נוֹתֵןso is he who givesלִכְסִילfor a foolכָּבוֹד׃honor
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
- 9
חוֹחַa thornעָלָהgoes upבְיַד־שִׁכּוֹרinto the hand of a drunkardוּמָשָׁלand a proverbבְּפִיin the mouth ofכְסִילִים׃fools
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- 10
רַבthe great Godמְחוֹלֵל־כֹּלwho formed all thingsוְשֹׂכֵרand rewardsכְּסִילthe foolוְשֹׂכֵרand rewardsעֹבְרִים׃transgressors
The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
- 11
כְּכֶלֶבlike a dogשָׁבreturnsעַל־קֵאוֹupon his vomitכְּסִילa foolשׁוֹנֶהwho repeatsבְאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃his foolishness
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
- 12
רָאִיתָdo you seeאִישׁa manחָכָםwiseבְּעֵינָיוin his eyesתִּקְוָהthere is more hopeלִכְסִילfor a foolמִמֶּנּוּ׃from him
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
- 13
אָמַרsaidעָצֵלthe sluggardשַׁחַלa lionבַּדָּרֶךְby the wayאֲרִיa lionבֵּיןamongהָרְחֹבוֹת׃the streets
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
- 14
הַדֶּלֶתthe doorתִּסּוֹבit turnsעַל־צִירָהּupon its hingesוְעָצֵלand a sluggardעַל־מִטָּתוֹ׃upon his bed
As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
- 15
טָמַןhe laidעָצֵלthe sluggardיָדוֹhis handבַּצַּלָּחַתin the dishנִלְאָהit grieves himלַהֲשִׁיבָהּto bring it againאֶל־פִּיו׃to his mouth
The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
- 16
חָכָםis wiserעָצֵלthe sluggardבְּעֵינָיוin his eyesמִשִּׁבְעָהmore than sevenמְשִׁיבֵיwho renderטָעַם׃a reason
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
- 17
מַחֲזִיקone who takes holdבְּאׇזְנֵי־כָלֶבin the ears of a dogעֹבֵרpassing byמִתְעַבֵּרmeddlesעַל־רִיבupon contentionלֹּא־לוֹ׃not his
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
- 18
כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּlike a madmanהַיֹּרֶהthe one who throwsזִקִּיםfirebrandsחִצִּיםarrowsוָמָוֶת׃and death
As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
- 19
כֵּן־אִישׁthus man ofרִמָּהwho deceivesאֶת־רֵעֵהוּhis neighborוְאָמַרand saidהֲלֹא־מְשַׂחֵקis it not jestingאָנִי׃I
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
- 20
בְּאֶפֶסwhere there is noעֵצִיםwoodתִּכְבֶּה־אֵשׁit is extinguished fireוּבְאֵיןand where there is noנִרְגָּןa slandererיִשְׁתֹּקceasesמָדוֹן׃strife
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
- 21
פֶּחָםcoalsלְגֶחָלִיםto burning coalsוְעֵצִיםand woodלְאֵשׁfor a fireוְאִישׁand a man(מדונים)[מִדְיָנִים]contentionsלְחַרְחַר־רִיב׃to kindling contention
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
- 22
דִּבְרֵיthe words ofנִרְגָּןa slandererכְּמִתְלַהֲמִיםare as woundsוְהֵםand theyיָרְדוּgo down intoחַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃the chambers of the womb
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
- 23
כֶּסֶףsilverסִיגִיםdrossמְצֻפֶּהoverlaidעַל־חָרֶשׂupon earthenwareשְׂפָתַיִםlipsדֹּלְקִיםburningוְלֶב־רָע׃and a wicked heart
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
- 24
בִּשְׂפָתָוwith his lipsיִנָּכֵרhe disguises himselfשׂוֹנֵאone who hatesוּבְקִרְבּוֹand in his midstיָשִׁיתhe will putמִרְמָה׃deceit
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
- 25
כִּי־יְחַנֵּןwhen he speaks fairקוֹלוֹhis voiceאַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּוֹbelieve him notכִּיforשֶׁבַעsevenתּוֹעֵבוֹתabominationsבְּלִבּוֹ׃in his heart
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
- 26
תִּכַּסֶּהit covers itselfשִׂנְאָהmaliceבְּמַשָּׁאוֹןby deceitתִּגָּלֶהit will be revealedרָעָתוֹhis evilבְקָהָל׃in the assembly
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
- 27
כֹּרֶה־שַּׁחַתis digging up a pitבָּהּin itיִפּוֹלshall fallוְגוֹלֵלand he who rollsאֶבֶןstoneאֵלָיוto himתָּשׁוּב׃return
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
- 28
לְשׁוֹן־שֶׁקֶרthe language of falseיִשְׂנָאhe will hateדַכָּיוthose afflicted by itוּפֶהand a mouthחָלָקsmoothיַעֲשֶׂהhe shall doמִדְחֶה׃ruin
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.