Proverbs

Proverbs 22:17–21

¹⁷Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise —

apply your mind to my knowledge —

¹⁸for it is pleasing when you keep them within you

and they are constantly on your lips.

¹⁹So that your trust may be in the LORD,

I instruct you today — yes, you.

²⁰Have I not written for you thirty sayings^c

about counsel and knowledge,

²¹to show you true and reliable words,

that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

Footnotes

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
Incline	הַ֥ט	haṭ	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
your ear	אָזְנְךָ֗	’ā·zə·nə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H241 ear
and hear	וּ֭שְׁמַע	ū·šə·ma‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H8085 hear
the words	דִּבְרֵ֣י	diḇ·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
of the wise	חֲכָמִ֑ים	ḥă·ḵā·mîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2450 wise
apply	תָּשִׁ֥ית	tā·šîṯ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H7896 put, set
your mind	וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗	wə·lib·bə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
to my knowledge	לְדַעְתִּֽי׃	lə·ḏa‘·tî	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H1847 knowledge

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it is pleasing	נָ֭עִים	nā·‘îm	Adjective - masculine singular	H5273 pleasant, delightful
when	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you keep them	תִשְׁמְרֵ֣ם	ṯiš·mə·rêm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
within you	בְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָ	bə·ḇiṭ·ne·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H990 belly, body, womb
and they are constantly	יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו	yaḥ·dāw	Adverb	H3162 unitedness
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
your lips	שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃	śə·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā	Noun - feminine dual construct; second person masculine singular	H8193 lip, speech, edge

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So that your trust	מִבְטַחֶ֑ךָ	miḇ·ṭa·ḥe·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4009 confidence
may be	לִהְי֣וֹת	lih·yō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
in the LORD	בַּ֭יהוָה	Yah·weh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
I instruct you	הוֹדַעְתִּ֖יךָ	hō·w·ḏa‘·tî·ḵā	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H3045 know
today	הַיּ֣וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
yes	אַף־	’ap̄-	Conjunction	H637 also, yea
you	אָֽתָּה׃	’āt·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Have I not	הֲלֹ֤א	hă·lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
written	כָתַ֣בְתִּי	ḵā·ṯaḇ·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H3789 write
for you	לְ֭ךָ	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
thirty sayings	שִׁלְשׁוֹם	šil·šōm	Noun - masculine plural	H8032 three days ago
about counsel	בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת	bə·mō·w·‘ê·ṣōṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural	H4156 counsel, plan, principle, device
and knowledge	וָדָֽעַת׃	wā·ḏā·‘aṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular	H1847 knowledge

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
to show you	לְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗	lə·hō·w·ḏî·‘ă·ḵā	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H3045 know
true	קֹ֭שְׁטְ	qō·šəṭ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7189 bow
and reliable	אֱמֶ֑ת	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
words	אִמְרֵ֣י	’im·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H561 something said
that you may	לְהָשִׁ֥יב	lə·hā·šîḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H7725 turn back, return
soundly	אֱ֝מֶ֗ת	’ĕ·meṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
answer	אֲמָרִ֥ים	’ă·mā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H561 something said
those who sent you	לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃פ	lə·šō·lə·ḥe·ḵā	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H7971 send