New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

1נִבְחָ֣ר שֵׁ֭ם מֵעֹ֣שֶׁר רָ֑ב מִכֶּ֥סֶף וּ֝מִזָּהָ֗ב חֵ֣ן טֽוֹב׃

2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.

2עָשִׁ֣יר וָרָ֣שׁ נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ עֹשֵׂ֖ה כֻלָּ֣ם יְהוָֽה׃

3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

3עָר֤וּם ׀ רָאָ֣ה רָעָ֣ה [ויסתר] (וְנִסְתָּ֑ר) וּ֝פְתָיִ֗ים עָבְר֥וּ וְֽנֶעֱנָֽשׁוּ׃

4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

4עֵ֣קֶב עֲ֭נָוָה יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְכָב֣וֹד וְחַיִּֽים׃

5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.

5צִנִּ֣ים פַּ֭חִים בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ עִקֵּ֑שׁ שׁוֹמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ יִרְחַ֥ק מֵהֶֽם׃

6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

6חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־ פִּ֣י דַרְכּ֑וֹ גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־ יַ֝זְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־ יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃

7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

7עָ֭שִׁיר בְּרָשִׁ֣ים יִמְשׁ֑וֹל וְעֶ֥בֶד לֹ֝וֶ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ מַלְוֶֽה׃

8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.

8זוֹרֵ֣עַ עַ֭וְלָה [יקצור־] (יִקְצָר־) אָ֑וֶן וְשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָת֣וֹ יִכְלֶֽה׃

9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

9טֽוֹב־ עַ֭יִן ה֣וּא יְבֹרָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־ נָתַ֖ן מִלַּחְמ֣וֹ לַדָּֽל׃

10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.

10גָּ֣רֵֽשׁ לֵ֭ץ וְיֵצֵ֣א מָד֑וֹן וְ֝יִשְׁבֹּ֗ת דִּ֣ין וְקָלֽוֹן׃

11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

11אֹהֵ֥ב [טהור־] (טְהָר־) לֵ֑ב חֵ֥ן שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו רֵעֵ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ׃

12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

12עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה נָ֣צְרוּ דָ֑עַת וַ֝יְסַלֵּ֗ף דִּבְרֵ֥י בֹגֵֽד׃

13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

13אָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל אֲרִ֣י בַח֑וּץ בְּת֥וֹךְ רְ֝חֹב֗וֹת אֵֽרָצֵֽחַ׃

14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.

14שׁוּחָ֣ה עֲ֭מֻקָּה פִּ֣י זָר֑וֹת זְע֥וּם יְ֝הוָ֗ה [יפול־] (יִפָּל־) שָֽׁם׃

15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

15אִ֭וֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָ֣ה בְלֶב־ נָ֑עַר שֵׁ֥בֶט מ֝וּסָ֗ר יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise

16עֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל לְהַרְבּ֣וֹת ל֑וֹ נֹתֵ֥ן לְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר אַךְ־ לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

17הַ֥ט אָזְנְךָ֗ וּ֭שְׁמַע דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֑ים וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ תָּשִׁ֥ית לְדַעְתִּֽי׃

18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.

18כִּֽי־ נָ֭עִים כִּֽי־ תִשְׁמְרֵ֣ם בְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָ יִכֹּ֥נוּ יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו עַל־ שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃

19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD.

19לִהְי֣וֹת בַּ֭יהוָה מִבְטַחֶ֑ךָ הוֹדַעְתִּ֖יךָ הַיּ֣וֹם אַף־ אָֽתָּה׃

20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.

20הֲלֹ֤א כָתַ֣בְתִּי לְ֭ךָ [שלשום] (שָׁלִישִׁ֑ים) בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת וָדָֽעַת׃

21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

21לְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ קֹ֭שְׁטְ אִמְרֵ֣י אֱמֶ֑ת לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֲמָרִ֥ים אֱ֝מֶ֗ת לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃ פ

22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

22אַֽל־ תִּגְזָל־ דָּ֭ל כִּ֣י דַל־ ה֑וּא וְאַל־ תְּדַכֵּ֖א עָנִ֣י בַשָּֽׁעַר׃

23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

23כִּֽי־ יְ֭הוָה יָרִ֣יב רִיבָ֑ם וְקָבַ֖ע אֶת־ קֹבְעֵיהֶ֣ם נָֽפֶשׁ׃

24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

24אַל־ תִּ֭תְרַע אֶת־ בַּ֣עַל אָ֑ף וְאֶת־ אִ֥ישׁ חֵ֝מוֹת לֹ֣א תָבֽוֹא׃

25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

25פֶּן־ תֶּאֱלַ֥ף [ארחתו] (אֹֽרְחֹתָ֑יו) וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ מוֹקֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.

26אַל־ תְּהִ֥י בְתֹֽקְעֵי־ כָ֑ף בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃

27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.

27אִם־ אֵֽין־ לְךָ֥ לְשַׁלֵּ֑ם לָ֥מָּה יִקַּ֥ח מִ֝שְׁכָּבְךָ֗ מִתַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃

28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.

28אַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

29חָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ לִֽפְנֵֽי־ מְלָכִ֥ים יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־ יִ֝תְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵ֥י חֲשֻׁכִּֽים׃ פ

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.