NET Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:

1גַּם־ אֵ֭לֶּה מִשְׁלֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶ֝עְתִּ֗יקוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י ׀ חִזְקִיָּ֬ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָֽה׃

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

2כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר׃

3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

3שָׁמַ֣יִם לָ֭רוּם וָאָ֣רֶץ לָעֹ֑מֶק וְלֵ֥ב מְ֝לָכִ֗ים אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר׃

4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge;

4הָג֣וֹ סִיגִ֣ים מִכָּ֑סֶף וַיֵּצֵ֖א לַצֹּרֵ֣ף כֶּֽלִי׃

5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

5הָג֣וֹ רָ֭שָׁע לִפְנֵי־ מֶ֑לֶךְ וְיִכּ֖וֹן בַּצֶּ֣דֶק כִּסְאֽוֹ׃

6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

6אַל־ תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר לִפְנֵי־ מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבִמְק֥וֹם גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים אַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹֽד׃

7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

7כִּ֤י ט֥וֹב אֲמָר־ לְךָ֗ עֲ‍ֽלֵ֫ה הֵ֥נָּה מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י נָדִ֑יב אֲשֶׁ֖ר רָא֣וּ עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

8אַל־ תֵּצֵ֥א לָרִ֗ב מַ֫הֵ֥ר פֶּ֣ן מַה־ תַּ֭עֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָ֑הּ בְּהַכְלִ֖ים אֹתְךָ֣ רֵעֶֽךָ׃

9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person,

9רִֽ֭יבְךָ רִ֣יב אֶת־ רֵעֶ֑ךָ וְס֖וֹד אַחֵ֣ר אַל־ תְּגָֽל׃

10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.

10פֶּֽן־ יְחַסֶּדְךָ֥ שֹׁמֵ֑עַ וְ֝דִבָּתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א תָשֽׁוּב׃

11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

11תַּפּוּחֵ֣י זָ֭הָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹת כָּ֑סֶף דָּ֝בָ֗ר דָּבֻ֥ר עַל־ אָפְנָֽיו׃

12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

12נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַחֲלִי־ כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל־ אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת׃

13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

13כְּצִנַּת־ שֶׁ֨לֶג ׀ בְּי֬וֹם קָצִ֗יר צִ֣יר נֶ֭אֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָ֑יו וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ אֲדֹנָ֣יו יָשִֽׁיב׃ פ

14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.

14נְשִׂיאִ֣ים וְ֭רוּחַ וְגֶ֣שֶׁם אָ֑יִן אִ֥ישׁ מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ל בְּמַתַּת־ שָֽׁקֶר׃

15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

15בְּאֹ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם יְפֻתֶּ֣ה קָצִ֑ין וְלָשׁ֥וֹן רַ֝כָּ֗ה תִּשְׁבָּר־ גָּֽרֶם׃

16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

16דְּבַ֣שׁ מָ֭צָאתָ אֱכֹ֣ל דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ פֶּן־ תִּ֝שְׂבָּעֶ֗נּוּ וַהֲקֵֽאתֽוֹ׃

17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

17הֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן־ יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃

18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

18מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃

19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.

19שֵׁ֣ן רֹ֭עָה וְרֶ֣גֶל מוּעָ֑דֶת מִבְטָ֥ח בּ֝וֹגֵ֗ד בְּי֣וֹם צָרָֽה׃

20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

20מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד ׀ בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָה חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־ נָ֑תֶר וְשָׁ֥ר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב־ רָֽע׃ פ

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

21אִם־ רָעֵ֣ב שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ לָ֑חֶם וְאִם־ צָ֝מֵ֗א הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ מָֽיִם׃

22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

22כִּ֤י גֶֽחָלִ֗ים אַ֭תָּה חֹתֶ֣ה עַל־ רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יְשַׁלֶּם־ לָֽךְ׃

23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

23ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל גָּ֑שֶׁם וּפָנִ֥ים נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר׃

24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

24ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־ פִּנַּת־ גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת [מדונים] (מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים) וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.

25מַ֣יִם קָ֭רִים עַל־ נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲיֵפָ֑ה וּשְׁמוּעָ֥ה ט֝וֹבָ֗ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָֽק׃

26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

26מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּמָק֣וֹר מָשְׁחָ֑ת צַ֝דִּ֗יק מָ֣ט לִפְנֵֽי־ רָשָֽׁע׃

27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

27אָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד׃

28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.

28עִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה אִ֝֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֖ין מַעְצָ֣ר לְרוּחֽוֹ׃

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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