Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
1 לְֽ֭תַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ נִפְרָ֑ד בְּכָל־תּ֝וּשִׁיָּ֗ה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
2 לֹֽא־יַחְפֹּ֣ץ כְּ֭סִיל בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה כִּ֝֗י אִֽם־בְּהִתְגַּלּ֥וֹת לִבּֽוֹ׃
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
3 בְּֽבוֹא־רָ֭שָׁע בָּ֣א גַם־בּ֑וּז וְֽעִם־קָל֥וֹן חֶרְפָּֽה׃
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
4 מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑ישׁ נַ֥חַל נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ מְק֣וֹר חָכְמָֽה׃
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
5 שְׂאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁ֣ע לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַטּ֥וֹת צַ֝דִּ֗יק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
6 שִׂפְתֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל יָבֹ֣אֽוּ בְרִ֑יב וּ֝פִ֗יו לְֽמַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
7 פִּֽי־כְ֭סִיל מְחִתָּה־ל֑וֹ וּ֝שְׂפָתָ֗יו מוֹקֵ֥שׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
8 דִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
9 גַּ֭ם מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה בִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ אָ֥ח ה֝֗וּא לְבַ֣עַל מַשְׁחִֽית׃
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
10 מִגְדַּל־עֹ֭ז שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה בּֽוֹ־יָר֖וּץ צַדִּ֣יק וְנִשְׂגָּֽב׃
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
11 ה֣וֹן עָ֭שִׁיר קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ וּכְחוֹמָ֥ה נִ֝שְׂגָּבָ֗ה בְּמַשְׂכִּיתֽוֹ׃
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
12 לִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֭בֶר יִגְבַּ֣הּ לֵב־אִ֑ישׁ וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָב֣וֹד עֲנָוֽ͏ָה׃
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
13 מֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
14 רֽוּחַ־אִ֭ישׁ יְכַלְכֵּ֣ל מַחֲלֵ֑הוּ וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה מִ֣י יִשָּׂאֶֽנָּה׃
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15 לֵ֣ב נָ֭בוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּ֑עַת וְאֹ֥זֶן חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּֽעַת׃
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
16 מַתָּ֣ן אָ֭דָם יַרְחִ֣יב ל֑וֹ וְלִפְנֵ֖י גְדֹלִ֣ים יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
17 צַדִּ֣יק הָרִאשׁ֣וֹן בְּרִיב֑וֹ *יבא־**וּבָֽא־רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ וַחֲקָרֽוֹ׃
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
18 מִ֭דְיָנִים יַשְׁבִּ֣ית הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּבֵ֖ין עֲצוּמִ֣ים יַפְרִֽיד׃
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
19 אָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז *ומדונים **וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים כִּבְרִ֥יחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
20 מִפְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
21 מָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
22 מָצָ֣א אִ֭שָּׁה מָ֣צָא ט֑וֹב וַיָּ֥פֶק רָ֝צ֗וֹן מֵיְהוָֽה׃
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
23 תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
24 אִ֣ישׁ רֵ֭עִים לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק מֵאָֽח׃
About the Hebrew Text
The Hebrew text displayed here follows the Westminster Leningrad Codex.