Proverbs

Proverbs 11:18–21

¹⁸The wicked man earns an empty wage,

but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

¹⁹Genuine righteousness leads to life,

but the pursuit of evil brings death.

²⁰The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,

but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

²¹Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The wicked man	רָשָׁ֗ע	rā·šā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7563 wicked, criminal
earns	עֹשֶׂ֥ה	‘ō·śeh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6213 do, make
an empty	שָׁ֑קֶר	šā·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
wage	פְעֻלַּת־	p̄ə·‘ul·laṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H6468 work, recompence
but he who sows	וְזֹרֵ֥עַ	wə·zō·rê·a‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2232 sow, scatter seed
righteousness	צְ֝דָקָ֗ה	ṣə·ḏā·qāh	Noun - feminine singular	H6666 righteousness
a true	אֱמֶֽת׃	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
reward	שֶׂ֣כֶר	śe·ḵer	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7938 hire, wages

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Genuine	כֵּן־	kên-	Adjective - masculine singular	H3651 right, veritable, honest
righteousness	צְדָקָ֥ה	ṣə·ḏā·qāh	Noun - feminine singular	H6666 righteousness
leads to life	לְחַיִּ֑ים	lə·ḥay·yîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H2416 alive, living
but the pursuit	וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף	ū·mə·rad·dêp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H7291 pursue, chase, persecute
of evil	רָעָ֣ה	rā·‘āh	Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
brings death	לְמוֹתֽוֹ׃	lə·mō·w·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4194 death

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The perverse	עִקְּשֵׁי־	‘iq·qə·šê-	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H6141 twisted, perverted
in heart	לֵ֑ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
are an abomination	תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת	tō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8441 abomination
to the LORD	יְ֭הוָה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
but the blameless	תְּמִ֣ימֵי	tə·mî·mê	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H8549 complete, sound
in	דָֽרֶךְ׃	ḏā·reḵ	Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
are His delight	וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ	ū·rə·ṣō·w·nōw	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7522 goodwill, favour, acceptance, will

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Be assured	יָ֣ד	yāḏ	Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand
that the wicked	רָּ֑ע	rā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
will not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
go unpunished	יִנָּ֣קֶה	yin·nā·qeh	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5352 be empty(?), clean
but the offspring	וְזֶ֖רַע	wə·ze·ra‘	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2233 sowing, seed, offspring
of the righteous	צַדִּיקִ֣ים	ṣad·dî·qîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H6662 just, righteous
will escape	נִמְלָֽט׃	nim·lāṭ	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4422 slip away