גַּם אֵ֭לֶּה מִשְׁלֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶ֝עְתִּ֗יקוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י חִזְקִיָּ֬ה מֶֽלֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה
These also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר
the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings to search out a matter.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
שָׁמַ֣יִם לָ֭רוּם וָאָ֣רֶץ לָעֹ֑מֶק וְלֵ֥ב מְ֝לָכִ֗ים אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings unsearchable.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
הָג֣וֹ סִיגִ֣ים מִכָּ֑סֶף וַיֵּצֵ֖א לַצֹּרֵ֣ף כֶּֽלִי
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
הָג֣וֹ רָ֭שָׁע לִפְנֵי מֶ֑לֶךְ וְיִכּ֖וֹן בַּצֶּ֣דֶק כִּסְאֽוֹ
Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אַל תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר לִפְנֵי מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבִמְק֥וֹם גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים אַֽל תַּעֲמֹֽד
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great :
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
כִּ֤י ט֥וֹב אֲמָר לְךָ֗ עֲֽלֵ֫ה הֵ֥נָּה מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י נָדִ֑יב אֲשֶׁ֖ר רָא֣וּ עֵינֶֽיךָ
For better that it be said to you, Come up hither; than that you shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
אַל תֵּצֵ֥א לָרִ֗ב מַ֫הֵ֥ר פֶּ֣ן מַה תַּ֭עֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָ֑הּ בְּהַכְלִ֖ים אֹתְךָ֣ רֵעֶֽךָ
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbour has put you to shame.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
רִֽ֭יבְךָ רִ֣יב אֶת רֵעֶ֑ךָ וְס֖וֹד אַחֵ֣ר אַל תְּגָֽל
Debate your cause with your neighbour ; and discover not a secret to another:
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
פֶּֽן יְחַסֶּדְךָ֥ שֹׁמֵ֑עַ וְ֝דִבָּתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א תָשֽׁוּב
Lest he that heareth put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
תַּפּוּחֵ֣י זָ֭הָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹת כָּ֑סֶף דָּ֝בָ֗ר דָּבֻ֥ר עַל אָפְנָֽיו
A word fitly spoken apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַחֲלִי כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת
an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
כְּצִנַּת שֶׁ֨לֶג בְּי֬וֹם קָצִ֗יר צִ֣יר נֶ֭אֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָ֑יו וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ אֲדֹנָ֣יו יָשִֽׁיב
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
נְשִׂיאִ֣ים וְ֭רוּחַ וְגֶ֣שֶׁם אָ֑יִן אִ֥ישׁ מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ל בְּמַתַּת שָֽׁקֶר
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift clouds and wind without rain.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
בְּאֹ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם יְפֻתֶּ֣ה קָצִ֑ין וְלָשׁ֥וֹן רַ֝כָּ֗ה תִּשְׁבָּר גָּֽרֶם
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
דְּבַ֣שׁ מָ֭צָאתָ אֱכֹ֣ל דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ פֶּן תִּ֝שְׂבָּעֶ֗נּוּ וַהֲקֵֽאתֽוֹ
Hast you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
הֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ
Withdraw your foot from your neighbour's house; lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
שֵׁ֣ן רֹ֭עָה וְרֶ֣גֶל מוּעָ֑דֶת מִבְטָ֥ח בּ֝וֹגֵ֗ד בְּי֣וֹם צָרָֽה
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָה חֹ֣מֶץ עַל נָ֑תֶר וְשָׁ֥ר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב רָֽע
he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, vinegar upon nitre, so he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
אִם רָעֵ֣ב שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ לָ֑חֶם וְאִם צָ֝מֵ֗א הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ מָֽיִם
If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
כִּ֤י גֶֽחָלִ֗ים אַ֭תָּה חֹתֶ֣ה עַל רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יְשַׁלֶּם לָֽךְ
For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and YHWH shall reward you.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל גָּ֑שֶׁם וּפָנִ֥ים נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר
The north wind driveth away rain: so an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת עַל פִּנַּת גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מדונים מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר
better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
מַ֣יִם קָ֭רִים עַל נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲיֵפָ֑ה וּשְׁמוּעָ֥ה ט֝וֹבָ֗ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָֽק
cold waters to a thirsty soul, so good news from a far country.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּמָק֣וֹר מָשְׁחָ֑ת צַ֝דִּ֗יק מָ֣ט לִפְנֵֽי רָשָֽׁע
A righteous man falling down before the wicked a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
אָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד
not good to eat much honey: so to search their own glory glory.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
עִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה אִ֝֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֖ין מַעְצָ֣ר לְרוּחֽוֹ
He that no rule over his own spirit a city broken down, without walls.