Proverbs 26 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ו

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 26 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   כַּשֶּׁלֶגkash/SHE/leglike the snowבַּקַּיִץbak/KA/yitsin summerוְכַמָּטָרve/kham/ma/TARand like the rainבַּקָּצִירbak/ka/TSIRin harvestכֵּןkensoלֹא־נָאוֶהlo-na/VEis not fittingלִכְסִילlikh/SILfor a foolכָּבוֹד׃ka/VODhonor

   As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

2. 2

   כַּצִּפּוֹרkats/tsip/PORlike a sparrowלָנוּדla/NUDin flittingכַּדְּרוֹרkad/de/RORlike a swallowלָעוּףla/UFin flyingכֵּןkensoקִלְלַתkil/LATa curseחִנָּםchin/NAMwithout cause(לא)l[לוֹ]loto himתָבֹא׃ta/VOwill come

   As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

3. 3

   שׁוֹטshota whipלַסּוּסlas/SUSfor the horseמֶתֶגME/tega bridleלַחֲמוֹרla/cha/MORfor the donkeyוְשֵׁבֶטve/SHE/vetand a rodלְגֵוle/GEVfor the back ofכְּסִילִים׃ke/si/LIMfools

   A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

4. 4

   אַל־תַּעַןal-TA/ando not answerכְּסִילke/SILa foolכְּאִוַּלְתּוֹke/iv/val/TOaccording to his follyפֶּן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּוֹpen-tish/VE-lolest you be like himגַם־אָתָּה׃gam-AT/tayou also

   Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

5. 5

   עֲנֵהa/NEanswerכְסִילkhe/SILa foolכְּאִוַּלְתּוֹke/iv/val/TOaccording to his follyפֶּן־יִהְיֶהpen-yih/YElest he beחָכָםcha/KHAMwiseבְּעֵינָיו׃be/e/NAYVin his own eyes

   Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6. 6

   מְקַצֶּהme/kats/TSEcuts offרַגְלַיִםrag/LA/yimthe feetחָמָסcha/MASviolenceשֹׁתֶהsho/TEdrinksשֹׁלֵחַsho/LE/achhe who sendsדְּבָרִיםde/va/RIMwordsבְּיַד־כְּסִיל׃be/YAD-ke/SILby the hand of a fool

   He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

7. 7

   דַּלְיוּdal/YUhang limpשֹׁקַיִםsho/KA/yimthe legsמִפִּסֵּחַmip/pis/SE/achof the lameוּמָשָׁלu/ma/SHALand a proverbבְּפִיbe/FIin the mouth ofכְסִילִים׃khe/si/LIMfools

   The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8. 8

   כִּצְרוֹרkits/RORlike bindingאֶבֶןE/vena stoneבְּמַרְגֵּמָהbe/mar/ge/MAin a slingכֵּן־נוֹתֵןken-no/TENso is he who givesלִכְסִילlikh/SILto a foolכָּבוֹד׃ka/VODhonor

   As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9. 9

   חוֹחַCHO/acha thornעָלָהa/LAthat goes upבְיַד־שִׁכּוֹרve/YAD-shik/KORinto the hand of a drunkardוּמָשָׁלu/ma/SHALand a proverbבְּפִיbe/FIin the mouth ofכְסִילִים׃khe/si/LIMfools

   As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10. 10

    רַבRavthe Great Oneמְחוֹלֵל־כֹּלme/cho/LEL-kolwho formed allוְשֹׂכֵרve/so/KHERand rewardsכְּסִילke/SILthe foolוְשֹׂכֵרve/so/KHERand rewardsעֹבְרִים׃ov/RIMtransgressors

    The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

11. 11

    כְּכֶלֶבke/KHE/levlike a dogשָׁבshavthat returnsעַל־קֵאוֹal-ke/Oto his vomitכְּסִילke/SILis a foolשׁוֹנֶהsho/NEwho repeatsבְאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃ve/iv/val/TOhis folly

    As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12. 12

    רָאִיתָra/I/tado you seeאִישׁisha manחָכָםcha/KHAMwiseבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his own eyesתִּקְוָהtik/VAthere is more hopeלִכְסִילlikh/SILfor a foolמִמֶּנּוּ׃mim/MEN/nuthan for him

    Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

13. 13

    אָמַרa/MARsaysעָצֵלa/TSELthe sluggardשַׁחַלSHA/chalthere is a lionבַּדָּרֶךְbad/DA/rekhin the roadאֲרִיa/RIa lionבֵּיןbenamongהָרְחֹבוֹת׃ha/re/cho/VOTthe streets

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14. 14

    הַדֶּלֶתhad/DE/letthe doorתִּסּוֹבtis/SOVturnsעַל־צִירָהּal-tsi/RAon its hingeוְעָצֵלve/a/TSELso the sluggardעַל־מִטָּתוֹ׃al-mit/ta/TOon his bed

    As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15. 15

    טָמַןta/MANburiesעָצֵלa/TSELthe sluggardיָדוֹya/DOhis handבַּצַּלָּחַתbats/tsal/LA/chatin the dishנִלְאָהnil/Ait wearies himלַהֲשִׁיבָהּla/ha/shi/VAto bring it backאֶל־פִּיו׃el-pivto his mouth

    The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16. 16

    חָכָםcha/KHAMis wiserעָצֵלa/TSELthe sluggardבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his own eyesמִשִּׁבְעָהmish/shiv/Athan sevenמְשִׁיבֵיme/shi/VEwho answerטָעַם׃ta/AMwith discretion

    The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

17. 17

    מַחֲזִיקma/cha/ZIKone who takesבְּאׇזְנֵי־כָלֶבbe/oz/NE-KHA/levby the ears of a dogעֹבֵרo/VERpassing byמִתְעַבֵּרmit/ab/BERmeddlingעַל־רִיבal-rivin a quarrelלֹּא־לוֹ׃lo-lonot his own

    He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18. 18

    כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּke/mit/lah/LE/ahlike a madmanהַיֹּרֶהhay/yo/REwho shootsזִקִּיםzik/KIMfirebrandsחִצִּיםchits/TSIMarrowsוָמָוֶת׃va/MA/vetand death

    As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19. 19

    כֵּן־אִישׁken-ishso is the manרִמָּהrim/MAwho deceivesאֶת־רֵעֵהוּet-re/E/huhis neighborוְאָמַרve/a/MARand saysהֲלֹא־מְשַׂחֵקha/LO-me/sa/CHEKam not jokingאָנִי׃A/niI

    So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20. 20

    בְּאֶפֶסbe/E/fesfor lack ofעֵצִיםe/TSIMwoodתִּכְבֶּה־אֵשׁtikh/BE-eshthe fire goes outוּבְאֵיןu/ve/ENand where there is noנִרְגָּןnir/GANa whispererיִשְׁתֹּקyish/TOKceasesמָדוֹן׃ma/DONstrife

    Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21. 21

    פֶּחָםpe/CHAMcharcoalלְגֶחָלִיםle/ge/cha/LIMto burning coalsוְעֵצִיםve/e/TSIMand woodלְאֵשׁle/ESHto fireוְאִישׁve/ISHso a man of(מדונים)madavanayam[מִדְיָנִים]mid/ya/NIMquarrelsלְחַרְחַר־רִיב׃le/char/CHAR-rivfor kindling strife

    As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22. 22

    דִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofנִרְגָּןnir/GANa whispererכְּמִתְלַהֲמִיםke/mit/la/ha/MIMare as woundsוְהֵםve/HEMand theyיָרְדוּya/re/DUgo down intoחַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃chad/RE-VA/tenthe chambers of the belly

    The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23. 23

    כֶּסֶףKE/sefsilverסִיגִיםsi/GIMof drossמְצֻפֶּהme/tsup/PEoverlaidעַל־חָרֶשׂal-CHA/reson earthenwareשְׂפָתַיִםse/fa/TA/yimare lipsדֹּלְקִיםdol/KIMburningוְלֶב־רָע׃ve/LEV-raand an evil heart

    Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24. 24

    בִּשְׂפָתָוbis/fa/TAVwith his lipsיִנָּכֵרyin/na/KHERdisguises himselfשׂוֹנֵאso/NEhe who hatesוּבְקִרְבּוֹu/ve/kir/BOand within himיָשִׁיתya/SHIThe lays upמִרְמָה׃mir/MAdeceit

    He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

25. 25

    כִּי־יְחַנֵּןki-ye/chan/NENwhen he makes graciousקוֹלוֹko/LOhis voiceאַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּוֹal-ta/a/MEN-bodo not believe himכִּיkiforשֶׁבַעSHE/vasevenתּוֹעֵבוֹתto/e/VOTabominationsבְּלִבּוֹ׃be/lib/BOin his heart

    When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26. 26

    תִּכַּסֶּהtik/kas/SEthough is coveredשִׂנְאָהsin/Ahatredבְּמַשָּׁאוֹןbe/mash/sha/ONwith deceitתִּגָּלֶהtig/ga/LEit will be revealedרָעָתוֹra/a/TOhis wickednessבְקָהָל׃ve/ka/HALin the assembly

    Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

27. 27

    כֹּרֶה־שַּׁחַתko/RE-SHA/chathe who digs a pitבָּהּbainto itיִפּוֹלyip/POLwill fallוְגוֹלֵלve/GO/leland he who rollsאֶבֶןE/vena stoneאֵלָיוe/LAYVon himתָּשׁוּב׃ta/SHUVit will return

    Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28. 28

    לְשׁוֹן־שֶׁקֶרle/SHON-SHE/kera lying tongueיִשְׂנָאyis/NAhatesדַכָּיוdak/KAYVthose it crushesוּפֶהu/FEand a mouthחָלָקcha/LAKflatteringיַעֲשֶׂהya/a/SEworksמִדְחֶה׃mid/CHEruin

    A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.