English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

1לְאָדָ֥ם מַֽעַרְכֵי־ לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן׃

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.

2כָּֽל־ דַּרְכֵי־ אִ֭ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

3Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

3גֹּ֣ל אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

4The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

4כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֭הוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־ רָ֝שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה׃

5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

5תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ גְּבַהּ־ לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃

6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

6בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃

7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

7בִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה דַּרְכֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־ א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ׃

8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

8טוֹב־ מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

9The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

9לֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ׃

10An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.

10קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־ שִׂפְתֵי־ מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־ פִּֽיו׃

11A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

11פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽיהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ כָּל־ אַבְנֵי־ כִֽיס׃

12It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.

12תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא׃

13Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

13רְצ֣וֹן מְ֭לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־ צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב׃

14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it.

14חֲמַת־ מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־ מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃

15In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

15בְּאוֹר־ פְּנֵי־ מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃

16How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

16קְֽנֹה־ חָכְמָ֗ה מַה־ טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֝ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף׃

17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.

17מְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

18לִפְנֵי־ שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃

19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

19ט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ ר֭וּחַ אֶת־ [עניים] (עֲנָוִ֑ים) מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־ גֵּאִֽים׃

20Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

20מַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־ דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו׃

21The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

21לַחֲכַם־ לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

22מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

23The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

23לֵ֣ב חָ֭כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

24Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

24צוּף־ דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־ נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃

25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

25יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־ מָֽוֶת׃

26A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.

26נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃

27A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

27אִ֣ישׁ בְּ֭לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־ [שפתיו] (שְׂ֝פָת֗וֹ) כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת׃

28A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

28אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן‪‬ מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃

29A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.

29אִ֣ישׁ חָ֭מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־ טֽוֹב׃

30Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

30עֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֭ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה׃

31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

31עֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא׃

32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

32ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃

33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

33בַּ֭חֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־ הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה כָּל־ מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.