Proverbs

Proverbs 4:18–22

¹⁸The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰My son, pay attention to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

²¹Do not lose sight of them;

keep them within your heart.

²²For they are life to those who find them,

and health to the whole body.

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 path	וְאֹ֣רַח	wə·’ō·raḥ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular construct	H734 way, path
of the righteous	צַ֭דִּיקִים	ṣad·dî·qîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H6662 just, righteous
is like the first gleam	כְּא֣וֹר	kə·’ō·wr	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H216 light
of dawn	נֹ֑גַהּ	nō·ḡah	Noun - feminine singular	H5051 brightness
shining brighter	הוֹלֵ֥ךְ	hō·w·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and brighter until	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
midday	נְכ֥וֹן	nə·ḵō·wn	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H3559 be firm

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the way	דֶּ֣רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
of the wicked	רְ֭שָׁעִים	rə·šā·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7563 wicked, criminal
is like the darkest gloom	כָּֽאֲפֵלָ֑ה	kā·’ă·p̄ê·lāh	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H653 darkness, gloominess, calamity
they do not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
know	יָ֝דְע֗וּ	yā·ḏə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3045 know
what	בַּמֶּ֥ה	bam·meh	Preposition-b; Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
makes them stumble	יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃פ	yik·kā·šê·lū	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3782 stumble, stagger, totter

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My son	בְּ֭נִי	bə·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1121 son
pay attention	הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה	haq·šî·ḇāh	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H7181 incline, attend
to my words	לִדְבָרַ֣י	liḏ·ḇā·ray	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H1697 speech, word
incline	הַט־	haṭ-	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
your ear	אָזְנֶֽךָ׃	’ā·zə·ne·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H241 ear
to my sayings	לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י	la·’ă·mā·ray	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H561 something said

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
lose	יַלִּ֥יזוּ	yal·lî·zū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3868 turn aside, depart
sight of them	מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ	mê·‘ê·ne·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - cdc; second person masculine singular	H5869 eye
keep them	שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם	šā·mə·rēm	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
within	בְּת֣וֹךְ	bə·ṯō·wḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8432 midst
your heart	לְבָבֶֽךָ׃	lə·ḇā·ḇe·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3824 inner man, mind, will, heart

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they	הֵ֭ם	hêm	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
are life	חַיִּ֣ים	ḥay·yîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2416 alive, living
to those who find them	לְמֹצְאֵיהֶ֑ם	lə·mō·ṣə·’ê·hem	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H4672 attain to, find
and health	מַרְפֵּֽא׃	mar·pê	Noun - masculine singular	H4832 healing, cure, health
to the whole	וּֽלְכָל־	ū·lə·ḵāl-	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
body	בְּשָׂר֥וֹ	bə·śā·rōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1320 flesh