New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

1נָ֣סוּ וְאֵין־ רֹדֵ֣ף רָשָׁ֑ע וְ֝צַדִּיקִ֗ים כִּכְפִ֥יר יִבְטָֽח׃

2When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

2בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁע אֶ֭רֶץ רַבִּ֣ים שָׂרֶ֑יהָ וּבְאָדָ֥ם מֵבִ֥ין יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ כֵּ֣ן יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃

3A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

3גֶּ֣בֶר רָ֭שׁ וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק דַּלִּ֑ים מָטָ֥ר סֹ֝חֵ֗ף וְאֵ֣ין לָֽחֶם׃

4To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.

4עֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם׃ פ

5Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely.

5אַנְשֵׁי־ רָ֭ע לֹא־ יָבִ֣ינוּ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּמְבַקְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה יָבִ֥ינוּ כֹֽל׃

6Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.

6טֽוֹב־ רָ֭שׁ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֑וֹ מֵעִקֵּ֥שׁ דְּ֝רָכַ֗יִם וְה֣וּא עָשִֽׁיר׃

7Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.

7נוֹצֵ֣ר תּ֭וֹרָה בֵּ֣ן מֵבִ֑ין וְרֹעֶה זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים יַכְלִ֥ים אָבִֽיו׃

8Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.

8מַרְבֶּ֣ה ה֭וֹנוֹ בְּנֶ֣שֶׁךְ [ובתרבית] (וְתַרְבִּ֑ית) לְחוֹנֵ֖ן דַּלִּ֣ים יִקְבְּצֶֽנּוּ׃

9God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

9מֵסִ֣יר אָ֭זְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ תּוֹרָ֑ה גַּֽם־ תְּ֝פִלָּת֗וֹ תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃

10Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.

10מַשְׁגֶּ֤ה יְשָׁרִ֨ים ׀ בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ רָ֗ע בִּשְׁחוּת֥וֹ הֽוּא־ יִפּ֑וֹל וּ֝תְמִימִ֗ים יִנְחֲלוּ־ טֽוֹב׃

11Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.

11חָכָ֣ם בְּ֭עֵינָיו אִ֣ישׁ עָשִׁ֑יר וְדַ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃

12When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.

12בַּעֲלֹ֣ץ צַ֭דִּיקִים רַבָּ֣ה תִפְאָ֑רֶת וּבְק֥וּם רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יְחֻפַּ֥שׂ אָדָֽם׃

13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

13מְכַסֶּ֣ה פְ֭שָׁעָיו לֹ֣א יַצְלִ֑יחַ וּמוֹדֶ֖ה וְעֹזֵ֣ב יְרֻחָֽם׃

14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

14אַשְׁרֵ֣י אָ֭דָם מְפַחֵ֣ד תָּמִ֑יד וּמַקְשֶׁ֥ה לִ֝בּ֗וֹ יִפּ֥וֹל בְּרָעָֽה׃

15A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.

15אֲרִי־ נֹ֭הֵם וְדֹ֣ב שׁוֹקֵ֑ק מֹשֵׁ֥ל רָ֝שָׁ֗ע עַ֣ל עַם־ דָּֽל׃

16A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

16נָגִ֗יד חֲסַ֣ר תְּ֭בוּנוֹת וְרַ֥ב מַעֲשַׁקּ֑וֹת [שנאי] (שֹׂ֥נֵא) בֶ֝֗צַע יַאֲרִ֥יךְ יָמִֽים׃ פ

17A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him!

17אָ֭דָם עָשֻׁ֣ק בְּדַם־ נָפֶשׁ‪‬‪‬ עַד־ בּ֥וֹר יָ֝נ֗וּס אַל־ יִתְמְכוּ־ בֽוֹ׃

18The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

18הוֹלֵ֣ךְ תָּ֭מִים יִוָּשֵׁ֑עַ וְנֶעְקַ֥שׁ דְּ֝רָכַ֗יִם יִפּ֥וֹל בְּאֶחָֽת׃

19A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

19עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֥ף רֵ֝קִ֗ים יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ רִֽישׁ׃

20The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

20אִ֣ישׁ אֱ֭מוּנוֹת רַב־ בְּרָכ֑וֹת וְאָ֥ץ לְ֝הַעֲשִׁ֗יר לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃

21Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

21הַֽכֵּר־ פָּנִ֥ים לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְעַל־ פַּת־ לֶ֝֗חֶם יִפְשַׁע־ גָּֽבֶר׃

22Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.

22נִֽבֳהָ֥ל לַה֗וֹן אִ֭ישׁ רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן וְלֹֽא־ יֵ֝דַע כִּי־ חֶ֥סֶר יְבֹאֶֽנּוּ׃

23In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

23מ֘וֹכִ֤יחַ אָדָ֣ם אַ֭חֲרַי חֵ֣ן יִמְצָ֑א מִֽמַּחֲלִ֥יק לָשֽׁוֹן׃

24Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.

24גּוֹזֵ֤ל ׀ אָ֘בִ֤יו וְאִמּ֗וֹ וְאֹמֵ֥ר אֵֽין־ פָּ֑שַׁע חָבֵ֥ר ה֝֗וּא לְאִ֣ישׁ מַשְׁחִֽית׃

25Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.

25רְחַב־ נֶ֭פֶשׁ יְגָרֶ֣ה מָד֑וֹן וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ עַל־ יְהוָ֣ה יְדֻשָּֽׁן׃

26Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

26בּוֹטֵ֣חַ בְּ֭לִבּוֹ ה֣וּא כְסִ֑יל וְהוֹלֵ֥ךְ בְּ֝חָכְמָ֗ה ה֣וּא יִמָּלֵֽט׃

27Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

27נוֹתֵ֣ן לָ֭רָשׁ אֵ֣ין מַחְס֑וֹר וּמַעְלִ֥ים עֵ֝ינָ֗יו רַב־ מְאֵרֽוֹת׃

28When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.

28בְּק֣וּם רְ֭שָׁעִים יִסָּתֵ֣ר אָדָ֑ם וּ֝בְאָבְדָ֗ם יִרְבּ֥וּ צַדִּיקִֽים׃

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.