Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.

1פַּלְגֵי־ מַ֣יִם לֶב־ מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־ יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

2כָּֽל־ דֶּרֶךְ־ אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃

3Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

3עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

4The lamp that guides the wicked-- haughty eyes and an arrogant heart--is sin.

4רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

5מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־ לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכָל־ אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־ לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

6Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.

6פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־ מָֽוֶת׃

7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.

7שֹׁד־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

8A guilty man's conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.

8הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

9Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

9ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־ פִּנַּת־ גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

10A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor.

10נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־ רָ֑ע לֹא־ יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

11When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.

11בַּעְנָשׁ־ לֵ֭ץ‪‬ יֶחְכַּם־ פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־ דָּֽעַת׃

12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin.

12מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.

13אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־ דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

14A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.

14מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־ אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

15שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

16The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

16אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

17The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.

17אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

18The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.

18כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

19Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

19ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת [מדונים] (מִדְיָנִ֣ים) וָכָֽעַס׃

20Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them.

20אוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

21The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

21רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

22A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.

22עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

23The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

23שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

24The proud and arrogant person, named "Mocker," acts with excessive pride.

24זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃

25A slacker's craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.

25תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־ מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

26He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don't hold back.

26כָּל־ הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable-- how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!

27זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־ בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

28A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully.

28עֵד־ כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way.

29הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא ׀ [יכין] (יָבִ֬ין) [דרכיו] (דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃)

30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD.

30אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃ פ

31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the LORD.

31ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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