New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.

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

2People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.

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

3The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

3עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

4Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.

4רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

5Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

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

6Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.

6פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־ מָֽוֶת׃

7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.

7שֹׁד־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

8The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.

8הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

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

10Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.

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

11If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

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

12The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.

12מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

13Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.

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

14A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.

14מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־ אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

15Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.

15שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

16The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.

16אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

17Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

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

18The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.

18כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃

19It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.

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

20The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.

20אוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

21Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

21רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃

22The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.

22עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

23שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

24Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.

24זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃

25Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

25תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־ מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃

26Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!

26כָּל־ הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

27The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.

27זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־ בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

28A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.

28עֵד־ כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

29The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.

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

30No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD.

30אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃ פ

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.

31ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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