Proverbs 28 מִשְׁלֵי פרק כ״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Proverbs 28 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   נָסוּfleeוְאֵין־רֹדֵףwhen none pursuesרָשָׁעwickedוְצַדִּיקִיםbut the righteousכִּכְפִירlike a young lionיִבְטָח׃he is confident

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

2. 2

   בְּפֶשַׁעfor the transgression ofאֶרֶץthe land ofרַבִּיםmanyשָׂרֶיהָits princesוּבְאָדָםand by a manמֵבִיןwho understandיֹדֵעַwho knowsכֵּןthe stateיַאֲרִיךְ׃he prolongs

   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־רָשׁa poor manוְעֹשֵׁקand who oppressesדַּלִּיםthe poorמָטָרrainסֹחֵףsweepingוְאֵיןand leaves noלָחֶם׃food

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

4. 4

   עֹזְבֵיwho forsakeתוֹרָהLawיְהַלְלוּthey will praiseרָשָׁעwickedוְשֹׁמְרֵיand the keepers ofתוֹרָהLawיִתְגָּרוּthey engage in strifeבָם׃in them

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

5. 5

   אַנְשֵׁי־רָעevil menלֹא־יָבִינוּnot they might understandמִשְׁפָּטjudgmentוּמְבַקְשֵׁיand those who seekיְהֹוָהthe LORDיָבִינוּthey might understandכֹל׃all

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

6. 6

   טוֹב־רָשׁbetter is the poorהוֹלֵךְgoingבְּתֻמּוֹin his integrityמֵעִקֵּשׁthan he who is perverse ofדְּרָכַיִםhis waysוְהוּאand heעָשִׁיר׃rich

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

7. 7

   נוֹצֵרone who keepsתּוֹרָהLawבֵּןa sonמֵבִיןwho understandוְרֹעֶהand a companion ofזוֹלְלִיםgluttonsיַכְלִיםhe shamesאָבִיו׃his father

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

8. 8

   מַרְבֶּהone who increasesהוֹנוֹhis wealthבְּנֶשֶׁךְfor interest[וְתַרְבִּית]and unjust gainלְחוֹנֵןfor one who shows favor toדַּלִּיםthe poorיִקְבְּצֶנּוּ׃he gathers it

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

9. 9

   מֵסִירhe who turns awayאׇזְנוֹhis earמִשְּׁמֹעַfrom hearingתּוֹרָהLawגַּםalsoתְּפִלָּתוֹhis prayerתּוֹעֵבָה׃abomination

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

10. 10

    מַשְׁגֶּהone who leads astrayיְשָׁרִיםthe uprightבְּדֶרֶךְby the way ofרָעevilבִּשְׁחוּתוֹin his own pitהוּא־יִפּוֹלit is shall fallוּתְמִימִיםand blamelessיִנְחֲלוּ־טוֹב׃they 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

    חָכָםwiseבְּעֵינָיוin his eyesאִישׁa manעָשִׁירrichוְדַלand a poor personמֵבִיןwho understandיַחְקְרֶנּוּ׃searches him out

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

12. 12

    בַּעֲלֹץwhen rejoiceצַדִּיקִיםthe righteousרַבָּהthere is greatתִפְאָרֶתgloryוּבְקוּםand when ariseרְשָׁעִיםwicked menיְחֻפַּשׂis hiddenאָדָם׃man

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

13. 13

    מְכַסֶּהone who concealsפְשָׁעָיוhis transgressionsלֹאnotיַצְלִיחַhe shall prosperוּמוֹדֶהbut whoso confessesוְעֹזֵבand one who forsakes themיְרֻחָם׃he will be shown mercy

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

14. 14

    אַשְׁרֵיblessed areאָדָםmanמְפַחֵדwho fearsתָּמִידcontinuallyוּמַקְשֶׁהbut he who hardensלִבּוֹhis heartיִפּוֹלshall fallבְּרָעָה׃in evil

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

15. 15

    אֲרִי־נֹהֵםa lion roaringוְדֹבand a bearשׁוֹקֵקrangingמוֹשֵׁלrulerרָשָׁעwickedעַלuponעַם־דָּל׃people the poor

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

16. 16

    נָגִידrulerחֲסַרwho lacksתְּבוּנוֹתunderstandingוְרַבand is a greatמַעֲשַׁקּוֹתextortion(שנאי)[שֹׂנֵא]he who hatesבֶצַעunjust gainיַאֲרִיךְhe prolongsיָמִים׃days

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

17. 17

    אָדָםmanעָשֻׁקwho does violence toבְּדַם־נָפֶשׁin the blood of soulsעַד־בּוֹרuntil the pitיָנוּסfleeאַל־יִתְמְכוּ־בוֹ׃let no man stay him

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

18. 18

    הוֹלֵךְgoingתָּמִיםperfectיִוָּשֵׁעַshall be savedוְנֶעְקַשׁand one who is crooked ofדְּרָכַיִםhis waysיִפּוֹלshall fallבְּאֶחָת׃at one

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

19. 19

    עֹבֵדhe who tillsאַדְמָתוֹhis landיִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶםhe will be satisfied foodוּמְרַדֵּףand one who pursuesרֵיקִיםvain personsיִשְׂבַּע־רִישׁ׃shall have poverty enough

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

20. 20

    אִישׁa manאֱמוּנוֹתof faithfulnessרַב־בְּרָכוֹתshall abound with blessingsוְאָץand one who hastensלְהַעֲשִׁירto be richלֹאnotיִנָּקֶה׃he 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־פָּנִיםto pay regard to faceלֹא־טוֹבnot goodוְעַל־פַּת־לֶחֶםand upon a morsel of breadיִפְשַׁע־גָּבֶר׃a man will transgress

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

22. 22

    נִבְהָל־לַהוֹןhe who hastens to be richאִישׁa manרַעevilעָיִןeyeוְלֹא־יֵדַעand not shall knowכִּי־חֶסֶרthat povertyיְבֹאֶנּוּ׃it will come to him

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

23. 23

    מוֹכִיחַhe who rebukesאָדָםmanאַחֲרַיafterwardsחֵןfavorיִמְצָאshall findמִמַּחֲלִיקmore than one who makes smoothלָשׁוֹן׃tongue

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

24. 24

    גּוֹזֵלone who robsאָבִיוhis fatherוְאִמּוֹand his motherוְאֹמֵרand saysאֵין־פָּשַׁעit is no transgressionחָבֵרa companionהוּאheלְאִישׁfor a manמַשְׁחִית׃a destroyer

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

25. 25

    רְחַב־נֶפֶשׁhe of a proud heartיְגָרֶהhe stirs upמָדוֹןstrifeוּבֹטֵחַand secureעַל־יְהֹוָהupon the LORDיְדֻשָּׁן׃he 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

    בּוֹטֵחַis secureבְּלִבּוֹin his heartהוּאheכְסִילis a foolוְהוֹלֵךְand goingבְּחׇכְמָהin wisdomהוּאheיִמָּלֵט׃shall be delivered

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

27. 27

    נוֹתֵןgrantsלָרָשׁthe poor personאֵיןthere is noמַחְסוֹרlackוּמַעְלִיםand one who hidesעֵינָיוhis eyesרַב־מְאֵרוֹת׃shall have many a curse

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

28. 28

    בְּקוּםwhen aroseרְשָׁעִיםwicked menיִסָּתֵרmen hide themselvesאָדָםmanוּבְאׇבְדָםand when their perishיִרְבּוּthey may increaseצַדִּיקִים׃the righteous

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