1 Rivulets of waters `is' the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.

1 פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃

2 Every way of a man `is' right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.

2 כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבֹּ֣ות יְהוָֽה׃

3 To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

3 עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃

4 Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked `is' sin.

4 רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

5 The purposes of the diligent `are' only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.

5 מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ות חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־לְמֹותָ֑ר וְכָל־אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסֹֽור׃

6 The making of treasures by a lying tongue, `Is' a vanity driven away of those seeking death.

6 פֹּ֣עַל אֹ֭וצָרֹות בִּלְשֹׁ֣ון שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃

7 The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.

7 שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגֹורֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

8 Froward `is' the way of a man who is vile, And the pure -- upright `is' his work.

8 הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פָּעֳלֹֽו׃

9 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than `with' a woman of contentions and a house of company.

9 טֹ֗וב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

10 The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.

10 נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָ֑ע לֹא־יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

11 בַּעְנָשׁ־לֵ֭ץ¹ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת׃

12 The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

12 מַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃

13 Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.

13 אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנֹו מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.

14 מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃

15 To do justice `is' joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.

15 שִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשֹׂ֣ות מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

16 A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.

16 אָדָ֗ם תֹּ֭ועֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

17 Whoso `is' loving mirth `is' a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.

17 אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסֹור אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

18 The wicked `is' an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.

18 כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בֹּוגֵֽד׃

19 Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than `with' a woman of contentions and anger.

19 טֹ֗וב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת מְדֹונִים מִדְיָנִ֣ים וָכָֽעַס׃

20 A treasure to be desired, and oil, `Is' in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

20 אֹוצָ֤ר׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

21 Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

21 רֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֹֽוד׃

22 A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.

22 עִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽה׃

23 Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.

23 שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשֹׁונֹ֑ו שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּרֹ֣ות נַפְשֹֽׁו׃

24 Proud, haughty, scorner `is' his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.

24 זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמֹ֑ו עֹ֝ושֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֹֽון׃

25 The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.

25 תַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֹֽׂות׃

26 All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

26 כָּל־הַ֭יֹּום הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃

27 The sacrifice of the wicked `is' abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.

27 זֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תֹּועֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃

28 A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.

28 עֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ ומֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃

29 A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright -- he prepareth his way.

29 הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא׀ יָכִין יָבִ֬ין דְּרָכָיו דַּרְכֹּֽו׃

30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.

30 אֵ֣ין חָ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהוָֽה׃

31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance `is' of Jehovah!

31 ס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְיֹ֣ום מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃