Proverbs

Proverbs 12:16–20

¹⁶A fool’s anger is known at once,

but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

¹⁷He who speaks the truth declares what is right,

but a false witness speaks deceit.

¹⁸Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,

but the counselors of peace have joy.

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
A fool’s	אֱוִ֗יל	’ĕ·wîl	Noun - masculine singular	H191 foolish
anger	כַּעְס֑וֹ	ka‘·sōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3708 vexation, anger
is known	יִוָּדַ֣ע	yiw·wā·ḏa‘	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3045 know
at once	בַּ֭יּוֹם	bay·yō·wm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
but a prudent	עָרֽוּם׃	‘ā·rūm	Adjective - masculine singular	H6175 crafty, shrewd, sensible
overlooks	וְכֹסֶ֖ה	wə·ḵō·seh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3680 cover
an insult	קָל֣וֹן	qā·lō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H7036 ignominy, dishonour

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
speaks	יָפִ֣יחַ	yā·p̄î·aḥ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6315 breathe, blow
the truth	אֱ֭מוּנָה	’ĕ·mū·nāh	Noun - feminine singular	H530 firmness, steadfastness, fidelity
declares	יַגִּ֣יד	yag·gîḏ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
what is right	צֶ֑דֶק	ṣe·ḏeq	Noun - masculine singular	H6664 rightness, righteousness
but a false	שְׁקָרִ֣ים	šə·qā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
witness	וְעֵ֖ד	wə·‘êḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5707 witness
deceit	מִרְמָֽה׃	mir·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H4820 deceit, treachery

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Speaking rashly	בּ֭וֹטֶה	bō·w·ṭeh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H981 babble, vociferate angrily
is like a piercing	כְּמַדְקְר֣וֹת	kə·maḏ·qə·rō·wṯ	Preposition-k; Noun - feminine plural construct	H4094 piercing, stab, thrust
sword	חָ֑רֶב	ḥā·reḇ	Noun - feminine singular	H2719 sword
but the tongue	וּלְשׁ֖וֹן	ū·lə·šō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular construct	H3956 tongue
of the wise	חֲכָמִ֣ים	ḥă·ḵā·mîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2450 wise
brings healing	מַרְפֵּֽא׃	mar·pê	Noun - masculine singular	H4832 healing, cure, health

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Truthful	אֱ֭מֶת	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
lips	שְֽׂפַת־	śə·p̄aṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8193 lip, speech, edge
endure forever	תִּכּ֣וֹן	tik·kō·wn	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3559 be firm
but a lying	שָֽׁקֶר׃	šā·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
tongue	לְשׁ֣וֹן	lə·šō·wn	Noun - common singular construct	H3956 tongue
only	וְעַד־	wə·‘aḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
a moment	אַ֝רְגִּ֗יעָה	’ar·gî·‘āh	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H7280 disturb

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Deceit	מִ֭רְמָה	mir·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H4820 deceit, treachery
is in the hearts	בְּלֶב־	bə·leḇ-	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
of those who devise	חֹ֣רְשֵׁי	ḥō·rə·šê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H2790 cut in, engrave, plough, devise
evil	רָ֑ע	rā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
but the counselors	וּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖י	ū·lə·yō·‘ă·ṣê	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3289 advise, counsel
of peace	שָׁל֣וֹם	šā·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
have joy	שִׂמְחָֽה׃	śim·ḥāh	Noun - feminine singular	H8057 joy, gladness, mirth