← 20 | ← Proverbs | 22 →
Chapter 21
The King’s Heart
1
The king’s heart is a waterway… in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where… He pleases.
𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤁 𐤐𐤋𐤂𐤉 𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤉𐤃 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤉𐤈𐤍𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤇𐤐𐤑
מֶ֭לֶךְ לֶב־ פַּלְגֵי־ מַ֣יִם בְּיַד־ יְהוָ֑ה יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃ עַֽל־ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ me·leḵ leḇ- pal·ḡê- ma·yim bə·yaḏ- Yah·weh yaṭ·ṭen·nū ‘al- kāl- ’ă·šer yaḥ·pōṣ — WLC · 1
2
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤃𐤓𐤊 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤉𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤅𐤕𐤊𐤍 𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤕
כָּֽל־ אִ֭ישׁ דֶּרֶךְ־ בְּעֵינָ֑יו יָשָׁ֣ר יְהוָֽה׃ וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת kāl- ’îš de·reḵ- bə·‘ê·nāw yā·šār Yah·weh wə·ṯō·ḵên lib·bō·wṯ — WLC · 2
3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄 𐤅𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤍𐤁𐤇𐤓 𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤌𐤆𐤁𐤇
עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃ ‘ă·śōh ṣə·ḏā·qāh ū·miš·pāṭ niḇ·ḥār Yah·weh miz·zā·ḇaḥ — WLC · 3
4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked— [are] sin.
𐤓𐤅𐤌 𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤓𐤇𐤁 𐤋𐤁 𐤍𐤓 𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤇𐤈𐤀𐤕
רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃ rūm- ‘ê·na·yim ū·rə·ḥaḇ- lêḇ nir rə·šā·‘îm ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ — WLC · 4
5
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste [leads] to poverty.
𐤌𐤇𐤔𐤁𐤅𐤕 𐤇𐤓𐤅𐤑 𐤀𐤊 𐤋𐤌𐤅𐤕𐤓 𐤀𐤊 𐤅𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤑 𐤋𐤌𐤇𐤎𐤅𐤓
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־ לְמוֹתָ֑ר אַךְ־ וְכָל־ אָ֝֗ץ לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃ maḥ·šə·ḇō·wṯ ḥā·rūṣ ’aḵ- lə·mō·w·ṯār ’aḵ- wə·ḵāl ’āṣ lə·maḥ·sō·wr — WLC · 5
6
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
𐤐𐤏𐤋 𐤀𐤅𐤑𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤔𐤒𐤓 𐤁𐤋𐤔𐤅𐤍 𐤍𐤃𐤐 𐤄𐤁𐤋 𐤌𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤉
פֹּ֣עַל א֭וֹצָרוֹת שָׁ֑קֶר בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן נִ֝דָּ֗ף הֶ֥בֶל מָֽוֶת׃ מְבַקְשֵׁי־ pō·‘al ’ō·w·ṣā·rō·wṯ šā·qer bil·šō·wn nid·dāp̄ he·ḇel mā·weṯ mə·ḇaq·šê- — WLC · 6
7
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
𐤔𐤃 𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤂𐤅𐤓𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤀𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈
שֹׁד־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ šōḏ- rə·šā·‘îm yə·ḡō·w·rêm kî mê·’ă·nū la·‘ă·śō·wṯ miš·pāṭ — WLC · 7
8
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
𐤃𐤓𐤊 𐤅𐤆𐤓 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤄𐤐𐤊𐤐𐤊 𐤐𐤏𐤋𐤅 𐤅𐤆𐤊 𐤉𐤔𐤓
דֶּ֣רֶךְ וָזָ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃ וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר de·reḵ wā·zār ’îš hă·p̄aḵ·paḵ pā·‘o·lōw wə·zaḵ yā·šār — WLC · 8
9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤋𐤔𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤋 𐤐𐤍𐤕 𐤂𐤂 𐤇𐤁𐤓 𐤅𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤌𐤃𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤀𐤔𐤕
ט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־ פִּנַּת־ גָּ֑ג חָֽבֶר׃ וּבֵ֥ית מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת ṭō·wḇ lā·še·ḇeṯ ‘al- pin·naṯ- gāḡ ḥā·ḇer ū·ḇêṯ miḏ·yā·nîm mê·’ê·šeṯ — WLC · 9
10
The soul of the wicked [man] craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor… in his eyes.
𐤍𐤐𐤔 𐤓𐤔𐤏 𐤀𐤅𐤕𐤄 𐤓𐤏 𐤓𐤏𐤄𐤅 𐤉𐤇𐤍 𐤋𐤀 𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤅
נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־ רָ֑ע רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ יֻחַ֖ן לֹא־ בְּעֵינָ֣יו ne·p̄eš rā·šā‘ ’iw·wə·ṯāh- rā‘ rê·‘ê·hū yu·ḥan lō- bə·‘ê·nāw — WLC · 10
11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
𐤋𐤑 𐤁𐤏𐤍𐤔 𐤐𐤕𐤉 𐤉𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤋𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤅𐤁𐤄𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤋 𐤉𐤒𐤇 𐤃𐤏𐤕
לֵ֭ץ בַּעְנָשׁ־ פֶּ֑תִי יֶחְכַּם־ לְ֝חָכָ֗ם וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל יִקַּח־ דָּֽעַת׃ lēṣ ba‘·nāš- pe·ṯî yeḥ·kam- lə·ḥā·ḵām ū·ḇə·haś·kîl yiq·qaḥ- dā·‘aṯ — WLC · 11
12
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked [and] brings the wicked to ruin.
𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒 𐤌𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤋 𐤋𐤁𐤉𐤕 𐤓𐤔𐤏 𐤌𐤎𐤋𐤐 𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤓𐤏
צַ֭דִּיק מַשְׂכִּ֣יל לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃ ṣad·dîq maś·kîl lə·ḇêṯ rā·šā‘ mə·sal·lêp̄ rə·šā·‘îm lā·rā‘ — WLC · 12
13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out vvv and receive no answer.
𐤀𐤈𐤌 𐤀𐤆𐤍𐤅 𐤌𐤆𐤏𐤒𐤕 𐤃𐤋 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤂𐤌 𐤉𐤒𐤓𐤀 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤏𐤍𐤄
אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־ דָּ֑ל ה֥וּא גַּֽם־ יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃ ’ō·ṭêm ’ā·zə·nōw miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ- dāl hū gam- yiq·rā wə·lō yê·‘ā·neh — WLC · 13
14
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe [pacifies] great wrath.
𐤌𐤕𐤍 𐤁𐤎𐤕𐤓 𐤉𐤊𐤐𐤄 𐤀𐤐 𐤁𐤇𐤒 𐤅𐤔𐤇𐤃 𐤏𐤆𐤄 𐤇𐤌𐤄
מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־ אָ֑ף בַּ֝חֵ֗ק וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַזָּֽה׃ חֵמָ֥ה mat·tān bas·sê·ṯer yiḵ·peh- ’āp̄ ba·ḥêq wə·šō·ḥaḏ ‘az·zāh ḥê·māh — WLC · 14
15
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
𐤌𐤔𐤐𐤈 𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤋𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒 𐤅𐤌𐤇𐤕𐤄 𐤋𐤐𐤏𐤋𐤉 𐤀𐤅𐤍
מִשְׁפָּ֑ט עֲשׂ֣וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ miš·pāṭ ‘ă·śō·wṯ śim·ḥāh laṣ·ṣad·dîq ū·mə·ḥit·tāh lə·p̄ō·‘ă·lê ’ā·wen — WLC · 15
16
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤕𐤅𐤏𐤄 𐤌𐤃𐤓𐤊 𐤄𐤔𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤍𐤅𐤇 𐤁𐤒𐤄𐤋 𐤓𐤐𐤀𐤉𐤌
אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל יָנֽוּחַ׃ בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים ’ā·ḏām tō·w·‘eh mid·de·reḵ haś·kêl yā·nū·aḥ biq·hal rə·p̄ā·’îm — WLC · 16
17
He who loves pleasure will become poor…; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
𐤀𐤄𐤁 𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤌𐤇𐤎𐤅𐤓 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤄𐤁 𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤍 𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤓
אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה מַ֭חְסוֹר אִ֣ישׁ אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃ ’ō·hêḇ śim·ḥāh maḥ·sō·wr ’îš ’ō·hêḇ ya·yin- wā·še·men lō ya·‘ă·šîr — WLC · 17
18
The wicked [become] a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
𐤓𐤔𐤏 𐤊𐤐𐤓 𐤋𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒 𐤁𐤅𐤂𐤃 𐤅𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌
רָשָׁ֑ע כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק בּוֹגֵֽד׃ וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים rā·šā‘ kō·p̄er laṣ·ṣad·dîq bō·w·ḡêḏ wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ yə·šā·rîm — WLC · 18
19
Better to live in the desert… than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤔𐤁𐤕 𐤁𐤀𐤓𐤑 𐤌𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤌𐤃𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤊𐤏𐤎 𐤌𐤀𐤔𐤕
ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ מִדְבָּ֑ר מְדוֹנִים וָכָֽעַס׃ מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת ṭō·wḇ še·ḇeṯ bə·’e·reṣ- miḏ·bār mə·ḏō·nīm wā·ḵā·‘as mê·’ê·šeṯ — WLC · 19
20
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
𐤍𐤇𐤌𐤃 𐤀𐤅𐤑𐤓 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤍 𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤄 𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤅𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋 𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤉𐤁𐤋𐤏𐤍𐤅
נֶחְמָ֣ד אוֹצָ֤ר׀ וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃ neḥ·māḏ ’ō·w·ṣār wā·še·men bin·wêh ḥā·ḵām ū·ḵə·sîl ’ā·ḏām yə·ḇal·lə·‘en·nū — WLC · 20
21
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
𐤓𐤃𐤐 𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄 𐤅𐤇𐤎𐤃 𐤉𐤌𐤑𐤀 𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄 𐤅𐤊𐤁𐤅𐤃
רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃ rō·ḏêp̄ ṣə·ḏā·qāh wā·ḥā·seḏ yim·ṣā ḥay·yîm ṣə·ḏā·qāh wə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ — WLC · 21
22
A wise [man] scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤏𐤋𐤄 𐤏𐤉𐤓 𐤂𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤓𐤃 𐤏𐤆 𐤌𐤁𐤈𐤇𐤄
חָכָ֑ם עָלָ֣ה עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃ ḥā·ḵām ‘ā·lāh ‘îr gib·bō·rîm way·yō·reḏ ‘ōz miḇ·ṭe·ḥāh — WLC · 22
23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤐𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤋𐤔𐤅𐤍𐤅 𐤔𐤌𐤓 𐤍𐤐𐤔𐤅 𐤌𐤑𐤓𐤅𐤕
שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ מִצָּר֣וֹת šō·mêr pîw ū·lə·šō·w·nōw šō·mêr nap̄·šōw miṣ·ṣā·rō·wṯ — WLC · 23
24
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
𐤋𐤑 𐤔𐤌𐤅 𐤆𐤃 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤓 𐤏𐤅𐤔𐤄 𐤁𐤏𐤁𐤓𐤕 𐤆𐤃𐤅𐤍
לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃ lêṣ šə·mōw zêḏ yā·hîr ‘ō·w·śeh bə·‘eḇ·raṯ zā·ḏō·wn — WLC · 24
25
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤕 𐤏𐤑𐤋 𐤕𐤌𐤉𐤕𐤍𐤅 𐤊𐤉 𐤉𐤃𐤉𐤅 𐤌𐤀𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕
תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־ יָדָ֣יו מֵאֲנ֖וּ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ ta·’ă·waṯ ‘ā·ṣêl tə·mî·ṯen·nū kî- yā·ḏāw mê·’ă·nū la·‘ă·śō·wṯ — WLC · 25
26
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤄𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤄 𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤄 𐤅𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒 𐤉𐤕𐤍 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤇𐤔𐤊
כָּל־ הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃ kāl- hay·yō·wm hiṯ·’aw·wāh ṯa·’ă·wāh wə·ṣad·dîq yit·tên wə·lō yaḥ·śōḵ — WLC · 26
27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
𐤆𐤁𐤇 𐤓𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤕𐤅𐤏𐤁𐤄 𐤀𐤐 𐤊𐤉 𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤀𐤍𐤅 𐤁𐤆𐤌𐤄
זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־ יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃ בְזִמָּ֥ה ze·ḇaḥ rə·šā·‘îm tō·w·‘ê·ḇāh ’ap̄ kî- yə·ḇî·’en·nū ḇə·zim·māh — WLC · 27
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A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens [to truth] will speak forever.
𐤊𐤆𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤃 𐤉𐤀𐤁𐤃 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤔𐤅𐤌𐤏 𐤉𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤋𐤍𐤑𐤇
כְּזָבִ֥ים עֵד־ יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁוֹמֵעַ יְדַבֵּֽר׃ לָנֶ֥צַח kə·zā·ḇîm ‘êḏ- yō·ḇêḏ wə·’îš šômēaʿ yə·ḏab·bêr lā·ne·ṣaḥ — WLC · 28
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A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright [man]… makes his way {sure}.
𐤓𐤔𐤏 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤄𐤏𐤆 𐤁𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤉𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤉𐤊𐤉𐤍 𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤉𐤅
רָשָׁ֣ע אִ֣ישׁ הֵעֵ֬ז בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא׀ יָכִין דְּרָכָיו׃ rā·šā‘ ’îš hê·‘êz bə·p̄ā·nāw wə·yā·šār hū yå̄·ḵīn də·rå̄·ḵå̄w — WLC · 29
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[There is] no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel [that] can prevail against the LORD.
𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤍𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤑𐤄 𐤋𐤍𐤂𐤃 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄𐤐
אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃פ ’ên ḥāḵ·māh wə·’ên tə·ḇū·nāh wə·’ên ‘ê·ṣāh lə·ne·ḡeḏ Yah·weh — WLC · 30
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A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory [is] of the LORD.
𐤎𐤅𐤎 𐤌𐤅𐤊𐤍 𐤋𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤌𐤋𐤇𐤌𐤄 𐤄𐤕𐤔𐤅𐤏𐤄 𐤅𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃ וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה sūs mū·ḵān lə·yō·wm mil·ḥā·māh hat·tə·šū·‘āh Yah·weh — WLC · 31