כַּשֶּׁ֤לֶג בַּקַּ֗יִץ וְכַמָּטָ֥ר בַּקָּצִ֑יר כֵּ֤ן לֹא נָאוֶ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
כַּצִּפּ֣וֹר לָ֭נוּד כַּדְּר֣וֹר לָע֑וּף כֵּ֥ן קִֽלְלַ֥ת חִ֝נָּ֗ם לא ל֣וֹ תָבֹֽא
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
שׁ֣וֹט לַ֭סּוּס מֶ֣תֶג לַחֲמ֑וֹר וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶט לְגֵ֣ו כְּסִילִֽים
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אַל תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן תִּשְׁוֶה לּ֥וֹ גַם אָֽתָּה
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּיַד כְּסִֽיל
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, drinketh damage.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
דַּלְי֣וּ שֹׁ֭קַיִם מִפִּסֵּ֑חַ וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים
The legs of the lame are not equal: so a parable in the mouth of fools.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
כִּצְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָ֑ה כֵּן נוֹתֵ֖ן לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so he that giveth honour to a fool.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
ח֭וֹחַ עָלָ֣ה בְיַד שִׁכּ֑וֹר וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים
a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so a parable in the mouth of fools.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
רַ֥ב מְחֽוֹלֵֽל כֹּ֑ל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר כְּ֝סִ֗יל וְשֹׂכֵ֥ר עֹבְרִֽים
The great that formed all both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
כְּ֭כֶלֶב שָׁ֣ב עַל קֵא֑וֹ כְּ֝סִ֗יל שׁוֹנֶ֥ה בְאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ
As a dog returneth to his vomit, a fool returneth to his folly.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
רָאִ֗יתָ אִ֭ישׁ חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָ֑יו תִּקְוָ֖ה לִכְסִ֣יל מִמֶּֽנּוּ
Seest you a man wise in his own conceit? more hope of a fool than of him.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל שַׁ֣חַל בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ אֲ֝רִ֗י בֵּ֣ין הָרְחֹבֽוֹת
The slothful says, a lion in the way; a lion in the streets.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
הַ֭דֶּלֶת תִּסּ֣וֹב עַל צִירָ֑הּ וְ֝עָצֵ֗ל עַל מִטָּתֽוֹ
the door turneth upon his hinges, so the slothful upon his bed.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
טָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת נִ֝לְאָ֗ה לַֽהֲשִׁיבָ֥הּ אֶל פִּֽיו
The slothful hideth his hand in bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
חָכָ֣ם עָצֵ֣ל בְּעֵינָ֑יו מִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗ה מְשִׁ֣יבֵי טָֽעַם
The sluggard wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
מַחֲזִ֥יק בְּאָזְנֵי כָ֑לֶב עֹבֵ֥ר מִ֝תְעַבֵּ֗ר עַל רִ֥יב לֹּֽא לֽוֹ
He that passeth by, meddleth with strife not to him, one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
כְּֽ֭מִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶ֥ה זִקִּ֗ים חִצִּ֥ים וָמָֽוֶת
As a mad who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
כֵּֽן אִ֭ישׁ רִמָּ֣ה אֶת רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אָמַ֗ר הֲֽלֹא מְשַׂחֵ֥ק אָֽנִי
So the man deceiveth his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
בְּאֶ֣פֶס עֵ֭צִים תִּכְבֶּה אֵ֑שׁ וּבְאֵ֥ין נִ֝רְגָּ֗ן יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק מָדֽוֹן
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out: so where no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
פֶּחָ֣ם לְ֭גֶחָלִים וְעֵצִ֣ים לְאֵ֑שׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ מדונים מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים לְחַרְחַר רִֽיב
coals to burning coals, and wood to fire; so a contentious man to kindle strife.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
דִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי בָֽטֶן
The words of a talebearer as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל חָ֑רֶשׂ שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְלֶב רָֽע
Burning lips and a wicked heart a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
בשפתו בִּ֭שְׂפָתָיו יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
כִּֽי יְחַנֵּ֣ן ק֭וֹלוֹ אַל תַּֽאֲמֶן בּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י שֶׁ֖בַע תּוֹעֵב֣וֹת בְּלִבּֽוֹ
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for seven abominations in his heart.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
תִּכַּסֶּ֣ה שִׂ֭נְאָה בְּמַשָּׁא֑וֹן תִּגָּלֶ֖ה רָעָת֣וֹ בְקָהָֽל
hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the congregation.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
כֹּֽרֶה שַּׁ֭חַת בָּ֣הּ יִפֹּ֑ל וְגֹ֥לֵ֥ל אֶ֝בֶן אֵלָ֥יו תָּשֽׁוּב
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
לְֽשׁוֹן שֶׁ֭קֶר יִשְׂנָ֣א דַכָּ֑יו וּפֶ֥ה חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה
A lying tongue hateth afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.