Proverbs 28 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 28 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   נָסוּNA/sufleeוְאֵין־רֹדֵףve/EN-ro/DEFwhen no one pursuesרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedוְצַדִּיקִיםve/tsad/di/KIMbut the righteousכִּכְפִירkikh/FIRlike a young lionיִבְטָח׃yiv/TACHare bold

   The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2. 2

   בְּפֶשַׁעbe/FE/shaby the transgression ofאֶרֶץE/retsa landרַבִּיםrab/BIMmany areשָׂרֶיהָsa/RE/haits princesוּבְאָדָםu/ve/a/DAMbut by a manמֵבִיןme/VINof understandingיֹדֵעַyo/DE/aand knowledgeכֵּןkenits stabilityיַאֲרִיךְ׃ya/a/RIKHis prolonged

   For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3. 3

   גֶּבֶר־רָשׁGE/ver-rasha poor manוְעֹשֵׁקve/o/SHEKwho oppressesדַּלִּיםdal/LIMthe poorמָטָרma/TARis a rainסֹחֵףso/CHEFsweepingוְאֵיןve/ENthat leaves noלָחֶם׃LA/chemfood

   A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

4. 4

   עֹזְבֵיoz/VEthose who forsakeתוֹרָהto/RAthe lawיְהַלְלוּye/hal/LUpraiseרָשָׁעra/SHAthe wickedוְשֹׁמְרֵיve/shom/REbut those who keepתוֹרָהto/RAthe lawיִתְגָּרוּyit/ga/RUcontendבָם׃vamwith them

   They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

5. 5

   אַנְשֵׁי־רָעan/SHE-raevil menלֹא־יָבִינוּlo-ya/VI/nudo not understandמִשְׁפָּטmish/PATjusticeוּמְבַקְשֵׁיu/me/vak/SHEand those who seekיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDיָבִינוּya/VI/nuunderstandכֹל׃kholall

   Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

6. 6

   טוֹב־רָשׁtov-rashbetter is the poorהוֹלֵךְho/LEKHwho walksבְּתֻמּוֹbe/tum/MOin his integrityמֵעִקֵּשׁme/ik/KESHthan one perverse inדְּרָכַיִםde/ra/KHA/yimwaysוְהוּאve/HUthough he isעָשִׁיר׃a/SHIRrich

   Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7. 7

   נוֹצֵרno/TSERhe who keepsתּוֹרָהto/RAthe lawבֵּןbenis a sonמֵבִיןme/VINwho understandsוְרֹעֶהve/ro/Ebut a companion ofזוֹלְלִיםzol/LIMgluttonsיַכְלִיםyakh/LIMshamesאָבִיו׃a/VIVhis father

   Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

8. 8

   מַרְבֶּהmar/BEhe who increasesהוֹנוֹho/NOhis wealthבְּנֶשֶׁךְbe/NE/shekhby interest[וְתַרְבִּית]ve/tar/BITand increaseלְחוֹנֵןle/cho/NENfor him who is gracious toדַּלִּיםdal/LIMthe poorיִקְבְּצֶנּוּ׃yik/be/TSEN/nugathers it

   He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

9. 9

   מֵסִירme/SIRhe who turns awayאׇזְנוֹoz/NOhis earמִשְּׁמֹעַmish/she/MO/afrom hearingתּוֹרָהto/RAthe lawגַּםgamevenתְּפִלָּתוֹte/fil/la/TOhis prayerתּוֹעֵבָה׃to/e/VAis an abomination

   He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

10. 10

    מַשְׁגֶּהmash/GEhe who leads astrayיְשָׁרִיםye/sha/RIMthe uprightבְּדֶרֶךְbe/DE/rekhin a way ofרָעraevilבִּשְׁחוּתוֹbish/chu/TOin his own pitהוּא־יִפּוֹלhu-yip/POLhe will fallוּתְמִימִיםu/te/mi/MIMbut the blamelessיִנְחֲלוּ־טוֹב׃yin/cha/LU-tovthey will inherit good

    Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

11. 11

    חָכָםcha/KHAMis wiseבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his own eyesאִישׁisha manעָשִׁירa/SHIRrichוְדַלve/DALbut the poorמֵבִיןme/VINwho understandsיַחְקְרֶנּוּ׃yach/ke/REN/nusearches him out

    The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

12. 12

    בַּעֲלֹץba/a/LOTSwhen exultצַדִּיקִיםtsad/di/KIMthe righteousרַבָּהrab/BAgreat isתִפְאָרֶתtif/A/retgloryוּבְקוּםu/ve/KUMbut when riseרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedיְחֻפַּשׂye/chup/PASis sought outאָדָם׃a/DAMman

    When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13. 13

    מְכַסֶּהme/khas/SEhe who coversפְשָׁעָיוfe/sha/AYVhis transgressionsלֹאlowill notיַצְלִיחַyats/LI/achprosperוּמוֹדֶהu/mo/DEbut he who confessesוְעֹזֵבve/o/ZEVand forsakes themיְרֻחָם׃ye/ru/CHAMwill obtain compassion

    He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

14. 14

    אַשְׁרֵיash/REblessed areאָדָםa/DAMthe manמְפַחֵדme/fa/CHEDwho fearsתָּמִידta/MIDcontinuallyוּמַקְשֶׁהu/mak/SHEbut he who hardensלִבּוֹlib/BOhis heartיִפּוֹלyip/POLwill fallבְּרָעָה׃be/ra/Ainto calamity

    Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

15. 15

    אֲרִי־נֹהֵםa/RI-no/HEMa roaring lionוְדֹבve/DOVand a bearשׁוֹקֵקsho/KEKchargingמוֹשֵׁלmo/SHELis a rulerרָשָׁעra/SHAwickedעַלaloverעַם־דָּל׃am-dala poor people

    As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16. 16

    נָגִידna/GIDa rulerחֲסַרcha/SARlackingתְּבוּנוֹתte/vu/NOTunderstandingוְרַבve/RAVis great inמַעֲשַׁקּוֹתma/a/shak/KOToppression(שנאי)shany[שֹׂנֵא]SO/nehe who hatesבֶצַעVE/tsaunjust gainיַאֲרִיךְya/a/RIKHwill prolongיָמִים׃ya/MIMdays

    The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17. 17

    אָדָםa/DAMa manעָשֻׁקa/SHUKburdenedבְּדַם־נָפֶשׁbe/DAM-NA/feshwith the blood of a soulעַד־בּוֹרad-borto the pitיָנוּסya/NUSwill fleeאַל־יִתְמְכוּ־בוֹ׃al-yit/me/KHU-volet none hold him

    A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

18. 18

    הוֹלֵךְho/LEKHhe who walksתָּמִיםta/MIMblamelesslyיִוָּשֵׁעַyiv/va/SHE/ashall be savedוְנֶעְקַשׁve/ne/KASHbut he who is perverse inדְּרָכַיִםde/ra/KHA/yimwaysיִפּוֹלyip/POLwill fallבְּאֶחָת׃be/e/CHATat once

    Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

19. 19

    עֹבֵדo/VEDhe who worksאַדְמָתוֹad/ma/TOhis landיִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶםyis/BA-LA/chemwill have plenty of breadוּמְרַדֵּףu/me/rad/DEFbut he who pursuesרֵיקִיםre/KIMworthless thingsיִשְׂבַּע־רִישׁ׃yis/BA-rishwill have plenty of poverty

    He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

20. 20

    אִישׁisha man ofאֱמוּנוֹתe/mu/NOTfaithfulnessרַב־בְּרָכוֹתrav-be/ra/KHOTwill abound with blessingsוְאָץve/ATSbut he who hastensלְהַעֲשִׁירle/ha/a/SHIRto be richלֹאlonotיִנָּקֶה׃yin/na/KEhe will go unpunished

    A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

21. 21

    הַכֵּר־פָּנִיםhak/KER-pa/NIMto show partialityלֹא־טוֹבlo-tovis not goodוְעַל־פַּת־לֶחֶםve/AL-pat-LE/chemand for a piece of breadיִפְשַׁע־גָּבֶר׃yif/SHA-GA/vera man will transgress

    To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

22. 22

    נִבְהָל־לַהוֹןNIV/hal-la/HONhastens after wealthאִישׁisha man ofרַעraan evilעָיִןA/yineyeוְלֹא־יֵדַעve/LO-ye/DAand does not knowכִּי־חֶסֶרki-CHE/serthat wantיְבֹאֶנּוּ׃ye/vo/EN/nuwill come upon him

    He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

23. 23

    מוֹכִיחַmo/KHI/achhe who rebukesאָדָםa/DAMa manאַחֲרַיa/cha/RAYafterwardחֵןchenfavorיִמְצָאyim/TSAwill findמִמַּחֲלִיקmim/ma/cha/LIKthan he who flatters withלָשׁוֹן׃la/SHONthe tongue

    He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

24. 24

    גּוֹזֵלgo/ZELone who robsאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOand his motherוְאֹמֵרve/o/MERand saysאֵין־פָּשַׁעen-PA/shait is no transgressionחָבֵרcha/VERis a companionהוּאhuheלְאִישׁle/ISHof a manמַשְׁחִית׃mash/CHITwho destroys

    Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25. 25

    רְחַב־נֶפֶשׁre/CHAV-NE/feshhe who is greedyיְגָרֶהye/ga/REstirs upמָדוֹןma/DONstrifeוּבֹטֵחַu/vo/TE/achbut he who trustsעַל־יְהֹוָהal-Adonaiin the LORDיְדֻשָּׁן׃ye/dush/SHANhe will be made fat

    He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

26. 26

    בּוֹטֵחַbo/TE/achhe who trustsבְּלִבּוֹbe/lib/BOin his own heartהוּאhuheכְסִילkhe/SILis a foolוְהוֹלֵךְve/ho/LEKHbut he who walksבְּחׇכְמָהbe/chokh/MAin wisdomהוּאhuheיִמָּלֵט׃yim/ma/LETwill be delivered

    He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

27. 27

    נוֹתֵןno/TENhe who givesלָרָשׁla/RASHto the poorאֵיןenthere is noמַחְסוֹרmach/SORlackוּמַעְלִיםu/ma/LIMbut he who hidesעֵינָיוe/NAYVhis eyesרַב־מְאֵרוֹת׃rav-me/e/ROTwill have many curses

    He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

28. 28

    בְּקוּםbe/KUMwhen riseרְשָׁעִיםre/sha/IMthe wickedיִסָּתֵרyis/sa/TERhide themselvesאָדָםa/DAMmenוּבְאׇבְדָםu/ve/ov/DAMbut when they perishיִרְבּוּyir/BUincreaseצַדִּיקִים׃tsad/di/KIMthe righteous

    When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.